Entry Level Background Investigator Jobs in Riverside, CA

Salary: See Position Description
Location : Throughout Riverside County
Job Type: Regular
Job Number: 26-37704-01
Department: Sheriff
Opening Date: 01/05/2026
For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Riverside County Sheriff's Office is currently recruiting for Correctional Deputy and Deputy Sheriff - Lateral and Pre-Service candidates to be assigned throughout Riverside County.
Correctional Deputy I / IIDeputy Sheriff$30.52 - $37.14 Hourly
$42.35 - $64.75 Hourly
$5,290.53 - $6,437.31 Monthly
$7,340.41 - $11,223.90 Monthly
$63,486.36 - $77,247.77 Annually
$88,084.95 - $134,686.79 Annually
Correctional Deputy:Eligible applicants for Correctional Deputy must possess a valid California Standards and Training for Corrections (STC) - Adult Corrections Officer Core Course Certification.

• Correctional Deputy Lateral: A Lateral candidate is an individual who is currently working in a California adult correctional facility as a correctional deputy or equivalent, has passed their probationary period, and has obtained their California STC - Adult Corrections Officer Core Course Certification.
• Correctional Deputy Pre-Service: A Pre-Service candidate is an individual who holds a California STC - Adult Corrections Officer Core Course Certification and is currently not working in a law enforcement agency.

Deputy Sheriff: Eligible applicants for Deputy Sheriff must possess a valid California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certification or a California POST Waiver received from another state.

• Deputy Sheriff Lateral: A Lateral candidate is an individual who is currently working as a sworn peace officer for a California law enforcement agency, has passed their probationary period, and has obtained his/her California Basic POST Certificate.
• Deputy Sheriff Pre-Service: A Pre-Service candidate is an individual who has successfully graduated from a California POST-certified academy, holds an active California POST certification, and is not currently working as a California sworn peace officer.
• Deputy Sheriff - Out of State: Out-of-state candidates who have obtained a basic academy certification from another state can contact California POST and apply for a The Sheriff's Office will accept that as valid certification to qualify as a pre-service candidate. We do not accept POST (or equivalent) certifications from other states.

Meet the Team!
The law enforcement professionals of the Riverside County Sheriff's Office, with a staff of over 3,600 dedicated men and women, cover the expanse of over 7,300 square miles in southern California. The Sheriff's Office is dedicated to serving the citizens of its communities with integrity, professionalism, leadership, and loyalty and believes in service above self.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
For more information, visit the job description and benefits page:

• Correctional Deputy I / Correctional Deputy II
• Deputy Sheriff

***Correctional Deputy Trainee and Deputy Sheriff Trainee Applicants Click Here!***
This application is for Correctional Deputy and Deputy Sheriff - Laterals and Pre-Service positions only. If you are applying as a Trainee (entry level), do not submit this application. Instead, please review the qualifications and submit your application here.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Graduation from high school, possession of a Certificate of Proficiency issued by the California State Board of Education, or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. examination.
License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License
Legality for Employment: Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
AND
CORRECTIONAL DEPUTY I / II
Certification: California Standards and Training for Corrections (STC) - Adult Corrections Officer Core Course Certification. ***A copy of your academy certification(s) must be uploaded with your application as an attachment.
OR
DEPUTY SHERIFF
Certification: California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certification. ***A copy of your academy certification(s) must be uploaded with your application as an attachment.
SHERIFF'S OFFICE APPLICATION PROCESS

1. Online Application via Government Jobs
2. Pre-Background Questionnaire
3. Background Application via eSOPH
4. Extensive Background Investigation, including interview
5. Polygraph Examination
6. Pre-Employment Psychological Assessment
7. Medical Exam, including a pre-employment drug & alcohol screening (refusal to submit to testing or positive results for drugs, alcohol, or unexplained legal prescription drugs is an automatic disqualification).

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all the steps listed above.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
For questions regarding Lateral or Pre-Service qualifications:
Please email laterals@riversidesheriff.org.
For questions regarding this recruitment:Please contact Letisia Jimenez at (951) 955-5787 or Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Veteran's Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouse's death certificate, a letter of spouse's disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veteran's Administration. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here:
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at:
Proof of Education
If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.
If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services () or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ().
Work Authorization Requirement
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.
Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.
Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.
General Information
Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.
Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.
Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site,
If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at support@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-524-5627.
BENEFIT PROGRAM: RSA
MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect through the RSA Benefit Trust. The County provides a monthly Flexible Benefit Credit contribution to the RSA Benefit Trust on behalf of each RSA member as governed by the applicable RSA Memorandum of Understanding towards the cost of these plans.
Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list
SAFETY RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employee's Retirement System (CalPERS).

• Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 50): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local safety employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is nine (9%) percent.
• Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 50): Applicable to local safety employees 1) Hired on or after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is nine (9%) percent.
• Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2.7% @ 57): Applicable to CalPERS local safety new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. Effective July 1, 2023, the employee contributions will increase from 12.5% to 13.5%.

A new member is defined in PEPRA as any of the following:

1. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.
2. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon rejoining CalPERS.
3. A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".
Contribution rates are subject to change based on the annual County of Riverside actuarial valuation.
Note:
This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to or by calling the Benefits Information Line (951) 955-4981 Option 2.
If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact
CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options (Nationwide or VALIC). Employees may contribute bi-weekly deduction up to the annual maximum on a pre-tax basis as governed under IRS regulations.