BEST CIVIL GRAND JURY REPORT – awarded to a specific grand jury for an outstanding report.

Requirements and limitations

Nominations may be made only by a CGJA Chapter or Association for its county. Where there is no Chapter or Association, nominations may be made by a CGJA member who resides in the county.

A county may nominate only one civil grand jury report and one news media coverage topic per year. A single civil grand jury report may be the subject of both awards.

The nominated report must have been published within the preceding five years — thereby allowing sufficient time for responses and implementation.

Awards are announced at the CGJA Annual Conference in the fall.

Award criteria

Significance of the issue, topic rationale.
Clear description of the investigation.
Findings follow from facts, recommendations based on the findings.
Clarity of the language, objectivity, and fairness.
Identified problems accompanied by suggested means for resolution.
Impact on the citizenry.
Difficulty of the investigation.
Media coverage.
Agency acknowledgement.
Changes resulting from the report.

2023 Best Grand Jury Report – 2019-2020 San Bernardino County Grand Jury, City of Upland Investigation (See page 60 in San Bernardino Grand Jury Report 2019-2020 Full Report).

See listing of past recipients

Download the Best Grand Jury Report evaluation form (PDF)

 

NOTE: Please download and read Printer-friendly instructions for report instructions] before submitting the NOMINATION (they tell you exactly what is needed).

NOMINATION – Best Grand Jury Report Form

Send supporting files to basommer@ucdavis.edu. Provide electronic copies (PDFs, JPGs or such) of media articles. Links are no longer sufficient as sources have become inaccessible to nonsubscribers. Boxes with asterisks (*) are required information. If you have questions, please contact Barbara Sommer, Excellence in Reporting (EIR) Subcommittee Chair at basommer@ucdavis.edu or by phone at 530-574-8334. She will acknowledge receipt of the online nomination submission within a few days.
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