Applications are again available for the San Benito County civil grand jury, the watchdog group that is charged with keeping an eye on local government each year.
“The grand jury provides a perspective about local government that otherwise might not exist,” said Steve Sanders, presiding judge with the San Benito County Courthouse. “The whole point behind a jury – whether it’s a regular jury or a grand jury – is that they give a common-sense view about issues that affect the community.”
Each year, the county appoints 19 citizens to serve on the jury for one year, but no more than two consecutive years. According to the grand jury website, prospective jurors must:
n Live in San Benito for at least one year immediately before being selected
n Be a citizen of the United States
n Be 18 years or older
n Be “possessed of sufficient knowledge of the English language
n Be in possession of “natural faculties, of ordinary intelligence, of sound judgment and of fair character
The grand jury term runs from July 1 to June 30, with applications being accepted now for the 2013-14 fiscal year.
“We try to impanel the jury as quickly as possible at the beginning of the fiscal year,” Sanders said. “If we don’t have enough people it sometimes gets delayed and that makes it difficult to start running with its tasks.”
The grand jury investigations change year to year, based on the topics of interest of the jurors as well as complaints received from the community. Each year the jurors take a tour of the jail and juvenile hall facilities, but outside of those two annual tasks they have a lot of latitude to select items to investigate.
The 2011-12 grand jury report, released in the fall, included a recommendation to residents of Hollister to continue the Measure T taxing as well as recommendations to San Benito County supervisors to increase staffing levels at the county jail. The jurors also reviewed local schools and John Smith Landfill. Past investigations have also include a look at which schools say the pledge of allegiance each day, hours at the Hollister Animal Shelter and security at local schools.
The jurors write a report that is released each fall so that the agencies that are investigated can respond to the recommendations. Sanders said “the interest and effectiveness of the report varies.”
“It depends, of course, if their view point has an opinion one way. The local agency doesn’t always share that opinion,” Sanders said. “Local agencies must respond and review the recommendations. But they can let the grand jury know whether they agree or disagree or whether or not they will implement them.”
Sanders said sometimes the impact of the grand jury report may not be immediate.
“I’ve seen it pulled from years ago, when someone pulled out a report and used it as evidence of a position they maintain,” he said. “The bottom line is they have a bully pulpit to look at local government.”
In addition to their service to the community, Sanders said many former jurors have said they learned a lot about the community during their tenure.
“Most people report that they learn so much more about the community, specifically local government,” he said.
Residents who would like to submit a complaint for potential investigation to the grand jury must submit request in writing with a legible signature, address and phone number, along with any supporting evidence that may be available to: San Benito County Grand Jury, PO Box 1624, Hollister, CA 95024.
Past grand jury reports are available online at www.sanbenitocountygrandjury.org, as are prospective juror questionnaires. Residents can fill out the form and return it to: Superior Court of California, County of San Benito, 440 Fifth St., Room 205, in Hollister, CA 95023. Copies of the application can also be picked up at the same address. For more information, call 831-636-4057.
