In an attempt to identify some well-written reports to serve as examples for civil grand juries and for the Report Writing Workshops, CGJA trainers randomly sampled recent civil grand jury reports from throughout the state and selected the set included here. Their inclusion here is, therefore, illustrative rather than comprehensive. The intent is to respond to requests to see examples of reports that are well written, based on CGJA training criteria.
You can access copies of these reports by clicking on the links in the list below. The original reports are contained within the respective county website which can be found by clicking here to access any of the county’s grand jury website and find their reports. In some cases the report listed here is only contained in a consolidated final report on the county website.
Modoc – 2025-2026, Code Compliance for Economic Development
Orange – 2025-2026, A Breech in Public Trust: Buried in Fine Print: How the Board of Supervisors Orchestrated Their Salary Hike
Plumas – 2025-2026, The Fairgrounds: Polishing a Jewel of Our County
Ventura – 2026-2026, Giant Weed, Giant Problem: Arundo in Ventura County
Humboldt – 2024-2025, Scales of Justice Out of Balance? Humboldt County’s Public Defender’s Office
Monterey – 2024-2025, Road Safety in Monterey – Where to Report a Problem
Napa – 2024-2025, Behind the Curtain: Napa County Use Permit Process
San Francisco – 2024-2025, Failed Vision: Revamping the Roadmap to Safer Streets
Santa Barbara – 2024-2025, E-Bikes in Santa Barbara – What Will It Take to Make Them Safe
Calaveras – 2023-2024, Ebbetts Pass Veterans Memorial District: The Value of Transparency
Humboldt – 2023-2024, Arcata Fire District: Dwindling Resources = Dwindling Services
Mendocino – 2023-2024, Mendocino Coast Health Care District – Sick, but Returning to Health
Marin – 2023-2024, What Have They Done?
San Bernardino – 2023-2024, Trona Joint Unified School District
Shasta – 2023-2024, Addressing and Arresting MRSA Behind Bars
Marin – 2022-2023, Justice Delayed is Justice Denied – Marin DA’s Office in Crisis
Napa – 2022-2023, Mental Health Crisis Services in Napa County
Sonoma – 2022-2023, City of Sonoma Cemeteries
Stanislaus – 2022-2023, City of Oakdale, Police Department Patrol Officers Out of Compliance with Mandated Training
Tehama – 2022, Bringing Tehama LAFCo Up To Date
Yolo – 2022-2023, Safe and Secure? A New Look at the Yolo County Elections Office
Nevada – 2021-2022, Nevada Irrigation District: Troubled Waters
Orange – 2021-2022, Orange County Power Authority: Come Clean
Sacramento – 2021-2022, Isleton City Council Violates State Election Laws
San Francisco – 2021-2022, Shovel Ready: Best Practices and Collaboration to Improve San Francisco’s Capital Construction Project
Siskiyou – 2021-2022, Deadwood Conservation Camp
In addition, CGJA’s annual Excellence in Reporting Award recognizes the best report of those nominated each year by chapters or associations (or members in counties where there is no chapter or association). The criteria for the awards include the editorial merit, the effectiveness of the report, and its impact on the community. These reports do not necessarily reflect the content, format, and style recommended by CGJA, but they are good reports that have been shown to make a demonstrable difference in local government. These award-winning reports can be found here.