Grand Jury

MARIN COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY 2017-2018 • OCTOBER 2018 MARIN COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY EXPERIENCE 12 provide background information and allow pointed questions to be asked in a private setting. e Civil Grand Jury is sworn to pro- tect the anonymity of its sources, not just for your term, but for the rest of your life. Continuity In addition to ongoing investi- gations, the Civil Grand Jury also has administrative responsibili- ties. Perhaps the most important of these is reviewing public agencies' responses to previously published Civil Grand Jury re- ports for adequacy, completeness, and timeliness. For example, if an agency promised to make a change by a certain date, the Civil Grand Jury seeks confirma- tion. Such monitoring ensures that promised changes happen. e RFI Eventually a committee will have enough information and direction to warrant writing an RFI (Request for Investigation). An RFI is an overview of what the committee plans to further research and is presented to the entire 19-member body of the jury (the "Plenary"). If the re- search pans out, a report is then written that the Plenary later reviews and votes on. Sometimes a committee dis- covers that their "hot topic" is no longer appropriate (assumptions prove to be incorrect or other agencies are already investigat- ing) and has to abandon the topic and start anew. Excitement builds as expertise is developed: learn- ing the lingo, meeting leaders, understanding motivations, deci- phering the law, and finding best practices. Jurors start thinking about solutions to issues, validat- ing these solutions through ad- ditional research, conversation, and surveys. One key investiga- tive principle is triangulation: To prove anything, three inde- pendent sources are required. Triangulation takes time but is key to a report's effectiveness. Reports don't simply contain your thoughts or your observa- tions, they contain concepts and solutions that you prove as best you can. Field trips e Civil Grand Jury is not all work and no play. ere are opportunities to take social "field trips" to learn as much as you can about your County. You will visit a wide variety of agen- cies up-close and ask questions on matters you've always been curious about. In addition, lead- ers throughout the County are invited to the year-long speaker series, sharing details of their or- ganizations and responsibilities. Writing the report While some topics feel like they would take years to examine and report on, the Civil Grand Jury must complete its work within its one-year term. At some point it becomes clear that investigations must wrap up to begin writing the report described in the RFI presentation. Before draing your report, jurors can attend a "Report Writing 101" class. e writing process can be the most emotionally-charged phase of the term. During meetings, people agree on high-level concepts but when articulated in detail, com- mittee members may disagree on language, intent, specifics, or logical flow. Members re- view each other's contributions, negotiate phrasing, and merge separate ideas into a cohesive, rigorous report dra. e editing process Once your committee agrees the report is ready, a dra is passed to the editorial commit- tee. is is the first chance for "fresh eyes" to read the report and offer suggestions. e inves- tigative committee then makes any necessary edits, eventually sharing their report with the Plenary. Report approval Members of the Plenary read the committee's report, share suggestions and ask additional questions before discussing and voting on it. As in other Plenary actions, a supermajority (at least 12 of the 19 jurors) must vote to approve. Aer Plenary approval, both County Counsel and the presid- ing judge must sign off on the report. eir role is not to censor your work, but to ensure that the specific language is legally appro- priate. (For example, the report is not libelous.) If they reject the re- port, the committee may wish to make necessary changes and seek re-approval. As required by the California Penal Code, a confi- dential copy is then sent to agen- cies named in the report. is ensures that these agencies have an opportunity to request any factual mistakes in the report be corrected before publication. Fi- nally, the report is published: It is placed onto the Civil Grand Jury's website and copies are sent to the media for possible coverage. THE RESULTS e most tangible result of your work is a published Civil Grand Jury report expressing concerns and containing recommendations to which specific agencies public- ly respond. e goal of each inde- pendently researched report is to stimulate community awareness and conversation – in the media, at board meetings, and within neighborhood groups. Over the years, Civil Grand Jury reports have addressed a wide variety of topics and have encouraged many measurable changes including: improved website transparency, reduced school bullying, use of police body cameras, increased recycling, a plastic bag ban, and increased senior care funding. INTERESTED? If you have some free time and a passion to make a difference, apply to the next Civil Grand Jury. You'll learn, share, and con- nect with other Marinites. Join us. e Civil Grand Jury works on a fiscal year basis and accepts applications throughout the year. e deadline for submitting an application for next year's Civil Grand Jury is April 22, 2019. Civil Grand Jury Experience continued from page 11 To APPLY for CIVIL GRAND JURY SERVICE visit: http://MarinCounty.org/GrandJury Click on "Marin Grand Jury Application" To request a CIVIL GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION visit: http://MarinCounty.org/GrandJury Click on "Form to Request an Investigation"

• Cover