[Yuba County] Off Beat: That darn grand jury!

Sometimes those pesky grand juries can really get under your skin, if you're the target of one of their sharp-penned reports.

The grand jury, especially the one in Yuba County, certainly has a long memory.

In its most recent report, the grand jury noted the sheriff and the county counsel have made a habit in recent years of not telling the grand jury of the 1978 consent decree that is supposed to cover jail operations.

"A copy of the consent decree has not been provided to the grand jury for an undetermined number of years," the grand jury sniffed, "and was not provided to this year's grand jury until the grand jury discovered the omission through a news report."

In both instances, the word "not" was underlined. This is important stuff.

"There has been a failure of the parties to the consent decree to provide the grand jury with a copy of the consent decree as mandated by the consent decree. The grand jury has been unable to find a recent record of prior grand juries having been informed of the consent decree."

The grand jury, on an annual basis, is supposed to review jail conditions to ensure they comply with the decree. Well, that was the plan. Maybe somebody forgot.

The grand jury report noted county counsel and the sheriff are supposed to tell the panel of the annual review requirement.

"The recommendation has not yet been implemented but will be within the next year," county supervisors wrote in their response. "The sheriff, as he indicated in his grand jury response, will provide a copy of the consent decree to the grand jury."

Maybe the sheriff should just post the consent decree on his website. Then everybody will remember it exists.

You're welcome.

September 5, 2015

Appeal-Democrat

By Harold Kruger