Scope of Investigative Powers

“Watchdog” Responsibilities

Investigate and report on the operations, accounts, and functions of:

County officers, departments and special legislative districts governed by county officers in their ex-officio capacity;
City officers and departments;
Joint Powers Agencies and officers;
Special purpose assessing, or taxing districts located wholly or partly within the county;
Local Agency Formation Commission;
Any nonprofit corporation established or operating on behalf of a Public entity;
Redevelopment Agencies;
Housing Authority;
School Districts and Boards of Education;
Investigate and report upon the needs for the increase or decrease of salaries of the county elected officials;
Investigate and report upon the needs of all county officers in the county, including abolition or creation of offices and equipment for, or the method or system of, performing the duties of the severs offices;
Inquiries into the conditions and management of the public prisons within the county;
Investigate and inquire into the willful or corrupt misconduct in office of public officers of every description within the county;
Investigate and inquire into sales and transfer of land, and into the ownership of land which, under state law, might be referred to the State of California.

Any individual may file a complaint with the Civil Grand Jury about the conduct of local agencies or units of government and public officials, whether elected or appointed. Anyone may ask for an investigation of alleged misconduct. Because names are never used in Civil Grand Jury Reports, individuals' confidentiality is protected.
To request an investigation, download, complete and return the Citizen's Complaint Form to Siskiyou County Civil Grand Jury, 411 Fourth Street, Yreka, CA 96097. The form may also be obtained from Maija Chandon at the Siskiyou County Courthouse 530-842-0440. Guide to Complete Complaint Form.
Throughout a complaint investigation, all information received by the Civil Grand Jury is kept in strict confidence and secrecy. Absolutely nothing may be disclosed by a Juror; even after his/her term has ended. It is a misdemeanor for a Civil Grand Juror to disclose evidence presented to the Civil Grand Jury or of conversations, deliberations, and votes of Jurors (Penal Code 924.1).
While it is a part of the judicial system, a Civil Grand Jury is an entirely independent body. Judges of the Superior Court, the District Attorney, the County Counsel, and the State Attorney General may act as its advisors but cannot attend jury deliberations nor control the actions of the Grand Jury (Penal Code 934.939).