CGJA Training Program

Every year the California Grand Jurors Association (CGJA) conducts training programs for all new grand juries.  These programs are conducted either as a regional seminar where jurors from multiple counties will convene or as an “on-site” seminar where a team of trainers will travel to a specific county to conduct training at their location.  These seminars may involve from one to three counties.  With some exceptions, all seminars are two full days. 

We also conduct a full-day Report Writing Workshop in the Fall of each year.

For further information please contact Training Committee Chair, Marsha Caranci, cgjatraining@cgja.org or by phone at 530-242-6554.

2012 Training Program schedule

Training Seminar Content

Our training seminars are designed for both new and returning grand jurors, as well as alternates. The main objective is to provide the knowledge and skills required to perform their basic civil oversight functions as grand jurors in their county.

The general session and core subjects are:

Grand Jury Overview
Grand Jury Overview will orient jurors to the grand jury’s mission and the historical context of the grand jury system in California. This general session presents an overview of the grand jury year with an emphasis on what takes place during each phase of the jury’s term. Organization of the grand jury including the responsibilities of the Foreperson and the members of the grand jury are covered, and the concepts of the grand jury as a collegial, non-hierarchical body, sharing authority, and operating as a unit, are emphasized.

Grand Jury Law
The Grand Jury Law session will sensitize jurors to the role of state law in governing grand jury activities. Citing specific Penal Code sections, it identifies what the grand jury must, can, and cannot do. It provides references to case law and Attorney General Opinions useful to a fuller understanding of the grand jury’s powers and limitations as they pertain to its civil oversight function. The presentation will also describe the Accusation process for removing a person from public office.

Grand Jury Investigations
This workshop defines investigation, discusses juror conflicts and recusals, and lays a basic groundwork for conducting grand jury investigations. Other topics covered include deciding what to investigate, planning and organizing the investigation, and conducting the investigation, stressing verification of information through “triangulation”. The workshop covers how the final report must flow directly from the investigation, points out that recommendations must be doable, and shows how the report can contain both positive and critical findings.

Grand Jury Interviews
Grand jurors will learn how to plan the interview, develop questions, conduct the interview and afterwards, how to analyze and verify the information. Also covered is the importance of confidentiality and of determining the objectives of the interview. The section on Juror Conduct During an Interview deals with proper professional dress and demeanor, maintaining objectivity and not jumping to conclusions.

Report Writing
This session helps build the skills jurors need in order to write effective reports. It provides ground rules for grand jurors and discussions on mandatory, discretionary, and unauthorized reports. The organization and content of final reports is covered, and suggestions are offered on how a typical report may be structured. Timelines are discussed to help jurors plan their tasks throughout the grand jury year.

In addition to the core sessions the seminar will include panel discussions and a variety of workshops, some taught by outside speakers, including some or all of the following:

Conducting Jail Inspections
Video of a Mock Grand Jury Interview
Special Districts
LAFCo
Continuity & Response Monitoring
Group Dynamics
Technology

© 2012 California Grand Jurors' Association