California · Penal Code

PEN §919: (a) The grand jury may inquire into the case of every person imprisoned in the jail of the county on a criminal charge and not indicted.

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute defines grand jury powers to investigate detained persons, prison conditions, and misconduct by public officers, including peace officer use of force incidents.

Read the full statutory text

(a) The grand jury may inquire into the case of every person imprisoned in the jail of the county on a criminal charge and not indicted. (b) The grand jury shall inquire into the condition and management of the public prisons within the county. (c) The grand jury shall inquire into the willful or corrupt misconduct in office of public officers of every description within the county. Except as provided in Section 918, this subdivision does not apply to misconduct that involves a shooting or use of excessive force by a peace officer described in Section 830.1, subdivision (a) of Section 830.2, or Section 830.39, that led to the death of a person being detained or arrested by the peace officer pursuant to Section 836.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.