Cal. Codes » Penal Code / PART 2. OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE / TITLE 4. GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS / CHAPTER 1. General Provisions
California Codes

Cal. Penal Code § 888 (2026)

General Provisions — Grand Jury Proceedings

✓ current as of May 2026
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A grand jury is a body of the required number of persons returned from the citizens of the county before a court of competent jurisdiction, and sworn to inquire of public offenses committed or triable within the county.

Each grand jury or, if more than one has been duly impaneled pursuant to Sections 904.4 to 904.8, inclusive, one grand jury in each county, shall be charged and sworn to investigate or inquire into county matters of civil concern, such as the needs of county officers, including the abolition or creation of offices for, the purchase, lease, or sale of equipment for, or changes in the method or system of, performing the duties of the agencies subject to investigation pursuant to Section 914.1.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1881–2024 · leading case: State v. Edmonson, 743 P.2d 459 (Idaho 1987).
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State v. Edmonson, 743 P.2d 459 (Idaho 1987). · cites it 2× “I, §§ 14, 23) and specifically implemented by the Legislature (Pen.Code, § 888 et seq.). Until such time as the Legislature may prescribe other appropriate procedures, the remedy most consistent *478 with the state Constitution as a whole and least intrusive on the Legislature's…”
City of Woodlake v. Tulare Cnty. Grand Jury, 197 Cal. App. 4th 1293 (Cal. Ct. App. 2011). “” (Pen. Code, § 888.) Its power is that “which the Legislature has deemed appropriate.”
Bradley v. Lacy, 53 Cal. App. 4th 883 (Cal. Ct. App. 1997). “may declare it to his fellow jurors, who may thereupon investigate it.” (Pen. Code, § 918.) The district attorney “may at all times appear before the grand jury for the purpose of giving information or advice relative to any matter cognizable by the grand jury, and may…”
People v. Aguirre, 227 Cal. App. 3d 373 (Cal. Ct. App. 1991). “” (Pen. Code, § 888.) “The grand jury may inquire into all public offenses committed or triable within the county and present them to the court by indictment.”
People v. Campbell, 43 Am. Rep. 257 (Cal. 1881). “) In pursuance of the above constitutional provision, the Legislature passed an act which went into effect on the 9th day of April, 1880, providing that “ all public offenses triable in the Superior Courts must be prosecuted by indictment or information, except as provided in…”
Martinez v. Superior Court, 106 Cal. App. 3d 975 (Cal. Ct. App. 1980). “I, §§ 14, 23) and specifically implemented by the Legislature (Pen. Code, § 888 et seq.). Until such time as the Legislature may prescribe other appropriate procedures, the remedy most consistent with the state Constitution as a whole and least intrusive on the Legislature’s…”
In Re: Application of the People of Guam, 2024 Guam 16 (Guam 2024). “10, Note, although the language was changed from inquiring into “public offenses” to “felonies and any related misdemeanors,” compare Cal. Penal Code § 888 (West 2023), with 8 GCA § 50.”
Hawkins v. Superior Court, 586 P.2d 916 (Cal. 1978). · cites it 2× “I, §§ 14, 23) and specifically implemented by the Legislature (Pen. Code, § 888 et seq.). Until such time as the Legislature may prescribe other appropriate procedures, the remedy most consistent with the state Constitution as a whole and least intrusive on the Legislature's…”
Untitled California Attorney Gen. Opinion (Cal. Att'y Gen. 2022). “” 9 Penal Code section 919(b) requires a grand jury, as one of its investigative tasks, to inspect the “public prisons” within a county. 10 The grand jury community has debated the meaning 2 People v.”
Untitled California Attorney Gen. Opinion (Cal. Att'y Gen. 1998). “Its investigative and reporting duties with respect to the administration and fiscal operations of county officers, departments, and operations (Pen. Code, §§ 888, 893, 914.1, 925, 928, 933; 76 Ops.”
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