Napa County Grand Jury
2026-2027
From the annual report
The consolidated year-end volume. The individual investigations it contains are listed separately below.
📑 Year-End Report
The full consolidated volume; individual reports are listed below.
Individual reports (7)
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Findings & Recommendations
3 findings
F1:
Napa County law enforcement agencies have worked well with the community to explain that they do not enforce immigration law, because it is a federal and not local function. Despite this, fears persist and therefore efforts should continue to expand the use of social and broadcast media, particularly in Spanish.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
The Napa County Sheriff and Police Departments should continue to deepen community collaborations and encourage their public information staff to expand the use of social and broadcast media, particularly in Spanish.
F2:
TRUTH Act annual reporting does not provide the Napa County Board of Supervisors and the community with timely and sufficiently detailed information.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
By June 30, 2026, the Napa County Board of Supervisors should request more frequent TRUTH Act reports from the Napa County Jail (to be provided at evening meetings of the Board, allowing broader public participation).
F3:
The Napa County Jail uses the full extent of its discretion under SB 54 in providing release information to ICE regarding those convicted of offenses listed under SB 54, including certain misdemeanors. In at least one instance, information was released regarding those who were charged with, but not convicted of, certain offenses listed under SB 54. COMMENDATION The 2025-2026 Napa County Civil Grand Jury commends the production of the December 2024 “Statement From Law Enforcement Agencies” regarding immigration enforcement and their clear and consistent public efforts to disseminate and abide by it.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
By June 30, 2026, the Napa County Board of Supervisors should request that the Napa County Jail TRUTH Act reports include data related to each individual for whom release information was sent to ICE, identification of the individual offense(s) and whether they were convictions or only charges, as well as using the Immigration Notification Matrix categories used by the Sonoma County Jail in their TRUTH Act reports.
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R4:
By June 30, 2026, the Napa County Board of Supervisors should review the Napa County Jail practices regarding individuals with misdemeanor offenses, “wobbler” offenses, or charges without convictions and whether their release dates should be excluded from ICE notifications.
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Findings & Recommendations
5 findings
F1:
Pre-application review meetings are optional and come with a fee, which may discourage applicants from using this, reported as helpful, resource.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
The Napa County Board of Supervisors make pre-application meetings mandatory, eliminate upfront costs, and fold costs into the full permit fee for those who proceed, and to do so by July 2026.
F2:
The County’s 80% cost recovery fee model creates added burdens for applicants, with more challenges expected with the planned shift to 100% cost recovery.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
The Napa County Board of Supervisors implement a structured fee system based on project complexity whenever possible to ensure fairness and greater transparency, and to do so by July 2026.
F3:
The winery database is outdated and inaccurate, limiting its usefulness as a reliable permitting resource
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
The Napa County Board of Supervisors update and maintain the winery database as the authoritative and trusted reference for permits in the County, and to do so by July 2027.
F4:
There is no process in place for conducting random audits to ensure winery permit compliance in the County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
The Napa County Board of Supervisors establish a funded audit program to monitor winery compliance, and to do so by July 2026.
F5:
The Napa County Planning, Building & Environmental Services Department faces structural inefficiencies, including a high supervisor-to-staff ratio and a lack of effective management structure.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5:
The Napa County Board of Supervisors evaluate alternative management structures for the Napa County Planning, Building & Environmental Services Department to establish a flatter, more effective organization, and to do so by July 2026 .
Findings & Recommendations
8 findings
F1:
The Pope Valley Union Elementary School District failed to provide a safe learning environment and requisite education for its students.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
The School Board develop and implement a long-term strategy for the school district, prioritizing policies and procedures to ensure academic performance and operational effectiveness, and do so by the start of the 2025-2026 academic year.
F2:
The PVUESD Board of Trustees (School Board) failed to deliver the necessary oversight and direction for PVUESD operations and academic performance. At this time, the School Board appears to be focused on addressing past deficiencies and committed to providing the necessary oversight and direction to improve PVUESD operations and academic performance.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
The School Board ensure that school leadership possesses the necessary qualifications and experience to effectively prioritize student safety and educational excellence and do so by the start of the 2025-2026 academic year.
F3:
Prior school superintendents/principals failed to ensure student safety, address academic instruction and student performance gaps, or manage the school and staff effectively. 14
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
The Superintendent/Principal continue the ongoing improvement process at Pope Valley Union Elementary School and ensure that changes instituted continue should school management change and do so by the 2025-2026 academic year.
F4:
The Superintendent/Principal, who held the position during this Civil Grand Jury investigation, implemented policies and procedures to stabilize and build sustainable long-term operations, enforce student safety protocols, and improve academic instruction and student performance.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
Regular updates by the School Board and Superintendent/Principal to inform the public, rebuild trust, promote inclusivity, and improve transparency in decision-making to strengthen the relationship between the school and the community, and do so by the start of the 2025-2026 academic year.
F5:
While the Civil Grand Jury investigation found no evidence of discrimination or unequal treatment by the school administration against Hispanic or Spanish-speaking families, the past lack of bilingual support revealed communication gaps, leaving Spanish-speaking parents and English Second Language learners feeling isolated and disconnected.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5:
The Board of Trustees and Superintendent/Principal develop and execute a permanent solution to provide safe and reliable transportation for students by the start of the 2025-2026 academic year. 15
F6:
Inadequate communication by district and school management following the trial and conviction of a former school employee for student sexual abuse left parents feeling disconnected and frustrated.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6:
The Board of Trustees and the Superintendent/Principal use the various resources, training, and support opportunities available through the Napa County Office of Education (NCOE), Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), California School Board Association (CSBA) and other educational and leadership resources and implement plans by the start of 2025-2026 academic year.
F7:
School bus transportation service was found to be inadequate to serve the district, with persistent equipment problems undermining reliability.
F8:
The school community is divided, with one group of parents and teachers supporting changes in the school and another favoring a return to prior practices and personnel.
Findings and recommendations not yet extracted.