California Constitution requires a Civil Grand Jury to be impaneled in each county annually. In Calaveras County we have 19 Jurors.

Civil Grand Jurors are adult citizens of all ages and different walks of life bringing their unique personalities and abilities to the panel. All Civil Grand Jurors are volunteers. They are gleaned from Voter Registration files as well as Department of Motor Vehicles records. Some are citizens who have submitted applications to serve their communities as Civil Grand Jurors.

The major function of the Civil Grand Jury is to examine County and City government and special districts to ensure said entities are carrying out their duties to the citizens of the County. The Civil Grand Jury is mandated to investigate the condition of jails and detention centers. Other than this annual requirement, the Civil Grand Jury may pursue investigations as a truly independent body. Each Civil Grand Jury is free to choose which local governmental entities or public officials to investigate. Ideas for investigations generally come by way of four avenues: citizen complaints, matters raised by members of the Civil Grand Jury, media reports, and referrals from the preceding Civil Grand Jury.

A Grand Jury is a body of the required number of persons returned from the citizens of the county before a court of competent jurisdiction, and sworn to inquire of public offenses committed or triable within the county.

Each Grand Jury or, if more than one has been duly impaneled pursuant to Sections 904.5 to 904.9, inclusive, one Grand Jury in each county, shall be charged and sworn to investigate or inquire into county matters of civil concern, such as the needs of county officers, including the abolition or creation of offices for, the purchase, lease or sale of equipment for, or changes in the methods or system or, performing the duties of the agencies subject to investigation pursuant to Section 914.1.