The Riverside County Grand Jury is primarily a civil jury conducting general business meetings that include committee meetings inquiring into the operation of county and municipal governments. Conclusions of findings are developed into recommendations on how to improve county and municipal governments and presented to the Board of Supervisors. In addition, the Riverside County Grand Jury reviews complaints submitted by county residents. By law a citizen eighteen years of age or older who has been a resident of the county for one year immediately before being selected, is a person of ordinary intelligence and good character, and possesses sufficient knowledge of the English language is qualified to be a candidate. In February of each year, a public announcement is posted soliciting applicants for the grand jury.
Application is made and submitted to a committee of judges for review.
Qualified persons are then invited to an interview. The Superior Court Judges try to nominate persons representing the cultural, ethnic, and diverse life experience of the County of Riverside so the grand jury may reflect the many interests and concerns of its citizens. From a list of qualified persons nominated by the judges, up to nineteen names are selected to comprise the grand jury. The number of names drawn may vary annually depending on the number of jurors held over from the last year's panel. Additionally, approximately fifteen more names are drawn and placed on an alternate jurors' list to fill vacancies created throughout the year.