Six reports examine county operations, public safety, health services, local government communication and Foresthill Public Utility District oversight.
Auburn, Calif. – The Placer County Civil Grand Jury is an investigatory body with the authority to act as a watchdog on local government, investigate citizen complaints, and assist in criminal matters at the request of the district attorney.
Grand jurors are sworn to secrecy and, other than final reports, their work is kept strictly confidential. The current grand jury was impaneled on July 9, 2025, and has worked for the past twelve months investigating special districts and government operations of county departments and cities. The release of the Placer County Grand Jury 2025-2026 Final Report today is the culmination of a year's work by nineteen dedicated Placer County citizens.
This year's Placer County Civil Grand Jury Final Report contains six individual reports which review local government operations. A report on the annual inspections of the county's jails and juvenile detention facility is included.
The 2025-2026 grand jury examined a variety of topics this term, including inter-jurisdictional interaction between the Auburn Police Department and the Placer County Sheriff's Department, how Placer County Health and Human Service has launched a new program that addresses the shortage of beds for those needing residential treatment, how Placer County cities and towns communicate with their residents, and Foresthill Public Utility District's conflict within the board, leadership, and employees as well as an urgent need for financial and operational oversight.
Norma J. Worley, who served as foreperson of this year's grand jury, stated "I am very proud of the work the grand jury completed this year. The topics investigated are timely and relevant to the citizens of our county. The grand jury speaks with one voice, and these reports document the outcome of many hours of work by nineteen dedicated Placer County citizens. Our investigations discovered instances where government is functioning properly, and we are pleased to recognize this. Deficiencies in local government operations are also documented and we hope these reports will lead to improvements that benefit the citizens of Placer County."