Presiding Judge of the Alameda County Superior Court Honorable C. Don Clay January 1, 2012 – Present

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  to examine, if it chooses, the books and records of a special purpose, assessing or taxing district located wholly or partly in the county and the 16 2012-2013 Alameda County Grand Jury Final Report ___________________________________________________________________ methods or systems of performing the duties of such district or commission. (Penal Code §933.5);
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  to submit to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court a final report of its findings and recommendations that pertain to the county government [Penal Code §933], with a copy transmitted to each member of the Board of Supervisors of the county (Penal Code §928); and,
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  to submit its findings on the operation of any public agency subject to its reviewing authority. The governing body of the public agency shall comment to the presiding judge of the superior court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the governing body and every elective county officer or agency head for which the grand jury has responsibility (Penal Code section 914.1) and shall comment to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, with an information copy sent to the Board of Supervisors, on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of that county officer or agency head and any agency or agencies which that officer or agency head supervises or controls. (Penal Code §933(c)). Secrecy/Confidentiality Members of the grand jury are sworn to secrecy and all grand jury proceedings are secret. This secrecy guards the public interest and protects the confidentiality of sources. The minutes and records of grand jury meetings cannot be subpoenaed or inspected by anyone. Each grand juror must keep secret all evidence presented before the grand jury, anything said within the grand jury, or the manner in which any grand juror may have voted on a matter (Penal Code section 924.1). The grand juror’s promise or oath of secrecy is binding for life. It is a misdemeanor to violate the secrecy of the grand jury room. Successful performance of grand jury duties depends upon the secrecy of all proceedings. A grand juror must not divulge any information concerning the testimony of witnesses or comments made by other grand jurors. The confidentiality of interviewees and complainants is critical. Legal Advisors In the performance of its duties, the grand jury may ask the advice (including legal opinions) of the District Attorney, the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, or the County Counsel. This can be done by telephone, in writing, or the person may be asked to attend a grand jury session. The District Attorney may appear before the grand jury at all times for the purpose of giving information or advice. Under Penal Code Section 936, the Attorney General of the state of California may also be consulted when the grand jury's usual advisor is disqualified. The grand jury has no inherent investigatory powers beyond those granted by the legislature. 17 2012-2013 Alameda County Grand Jury Final Report ___________________________________________________________________ Annual Final Report At the end of its year of service, a grand jury is required to submit a final report to the Superior Court. This report contains an account of its activities, together with suggestions and recommendations. The final report represents the investigations of the entire grand jury. Citizen Complaints As part of its civil function, the grand jury receives complaints from citizens alleging government inefficiencies, suspicion of misconduct or mistreatment by officials, or misuse of taxpayer money. Complaints are acknowledged and may be investigated for their validity. All complaints are confidential. If the situation warrants and corrective action falls within the jurisdiction of the grand jury, appropriate solutions are recommended. The grand jury receives dozens of complaints each year. With many investigations and the time constraint of only one year, it is necessary for each grand jury to make difficult decisions as to what it wishes to investigate during its term. When the grand jury receives a complaint it must first decide whether or not an investigation is warranted. The grand jury is not required by law to accept or act on every complaint or request. In order to maintain the confidentiality of complaints and investigations, the Alameda County Grand Jury only accepts complaints in writing. Complaints should include the name of the persons or agency in question, listing specific dates, incidents or violations. The names of any persons or agencies contacted should be included along with any documentation or responses received. Complainants should include their names and addresses in the event the grand jury wishes to contact them for further information. A complaint form has been included in this report, and is also available on the grand jury’s website at www.acgov.org/grandjury. Complaints should be mailed to: Alameda County Grand Jury, Attention: Foreperson, 1401 Lakeside Drive, Suite 1104, Oakland, CA 94612, or faxed to (510) 465-9647. An acknowledgment letter is routinely sent within one week of receipt of a complaint. How to Become a Grand Juror Citizens who are qualified and able to provide one year of service, and who desire to be nominated for grand jury duty may send a letter with their resume or complete a Civil Grand Jury Questionnaire (contained in this report) and mail it to: Office of the Jury Commissioner - Alameda County Superior Court, Grand Jury Selection, 1225 Fallon Street, Room 100, Oakland, CA 94612; or by calling (510) 818-7575. On the basis of supervisory district, six members from each district for a total of 30 nominees are assigned for grand jury selection. After the list of 30 nominees is completed, the selection of 19 jurors who will actually be 18 2012-2013 Alameda County Grand Jury Final Report ___________________________________________________________________ impaneled to serve for the year are selected by a random draw. This is done in late June before the jury begins its yearly term on July 1. For more information, please visit the Alameda County Superior Court website at www.alameda.courts.ca.gov and follow the link to “jury” then “grand jury.” Qualification of Jurors Prospective grand jurors must possess the following qualifications pursuant to Penal Code section 893: be a citizen of the United States; at least 18 years of age; a resident of Alameda County for at least one year immediately before being selected; possess ordinary intelligence, sound judgment and fair character; and possess sufficient knowledge of the English language. Other desirable qualifications include: an open mind with concern for others’ positions and views; the ability to work well with others in a group; an interest in community affairs; possession of investigative skills and the ability to write reports; and a general knowledge of the functions and responsibilities of county and city government. A person may not serve on the grand jury if any of the following apply: the person is serving as a trial juror in any court in the state; the person has been discharged as a grand juror in any court of this state within one year; the person has been convicted of malfeasance in office or any felony or other high crime; or the person is serving as an elected public officer. Commitment Persons selected for grand jury service must make a commitment to serve a one- year term (July 1 through June 30). Grand jurors should be prepared, on average, to devote two days each week to grand jury meetings. Currently, the grand jury meets every Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with additional days if needed. Grand jurors are required to complete and file a Statement of Economic Interest as defined by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission, as well as a Conflict of Interest form. Grand jurors are paid $15.00 per day for each day served, as well as a county mileage rate (currently 56 cents per mile) portal to portal, for personal vehicle usage. Persons selected for grand jury duty are provided with an extensive, month long orientation and training program in July. This training includes tours of county facilities and orientation by elected officials, county and departments heads and others. The orientation and training, as well as the weekly grand jury meetings, take place in Oakland. An application is contained in this report for interested citizens. Selection for grand jury service is a great honor and one that offers an opportunity to be of value to the community. 19 2012-2013 Alameda County Grand Jury Final Report ___________________________________________________________________ [This page intentionally left blank] 20
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  accepted applications (an even number from each supervisorial district), 19 members are randomly selected to serve. History of Grand Juries One of the earliest concepts of a grand jury dates back to ancient Greece where the Athenians used an accusatory body. Others claim the Saxons initiated the grand jury system. By the year 1290, the accusing jury was given authority to inquire into the maintenance of bridges and highways, the defects of jails, and whether the sheriff had kept in jail anyone who should have been brought before the justices. The Massachusetts Bay Colony impaneled the first American Grand Jury in 1635 to consider cases of murder, robbery and wife beating. Colonial grand juries expressed their independence from the Crown by refusing in 1765 to indict leaders of the Stamp Act or bring libel charges against the editors of the Boston Gazette. The union with other colonies to oppose British taxes was supported by a Philadelphia grand jury in 1770. By the end of the colonial period, the grand jury had become an indispensable adjunct of government. Grand Jury Duties The Alameda County Grand Jury is a constituent part of the Superior Court, created for the protection of society and the enforcement of law. It is not a separate political body or an individual entity of government but is a part of the judicial system and, as such, each grand juror is an officer of the court. Much of the grand jury's effectiveness is derived from the fact that the viewpoint of its members is fresh and unencumbered by prior conceptions about government. With respect to the subjects it is authorized to investigate, the grand jury is free to follow its own inclinations in investigating local government affairs. The grand jury may act only as a whole body. An individual grand juror has no more authority than any private citizen. Duties of the grand jury can generally be set forth, in part, as follows: 1. to inquire into all public offenses committed or triable within the county (Penal Code §917); 2. to inquire into the case of any person imprisoned and not indicted (Penal Code §919(a)); 3. to inquire into the willful or corrupt misconduct in office of public officers of every description within the county (Penal Code §919(c)); 4. to inquire into sales, transfers, and ownership of lands which might or should revert to the state by operation of law (Penal Code §920); 5. to examine, if it chooses, the books and records of a special purpose, assessing or taxing district located wholly or partly in the county and the 16