Lagunans encouraged to apply for Grand Jury

Friday is the deadline to apply for the Orange County Grand Jury.

The term begins July 1 and runs through June 30, 2014. Jurors are paid $50 a day, up to $250 a week. For more information or an application, visit https://www.ocgrandjury.org or call (714) 834-6747.

“I’ve been told the Grand Jury is the most powerful entity in Orange County,” recruiter Roger Prasser told the Laguna Beach City Council at the Jan. 15 meeting. “It can investigate anything.”

Prasser called the Grand Jury the watchdog of the people.

Last year, the jury made 39 indictments, 17 for murder.

Seeing videos of crimes and autopsy photographs can be gruesome, but serving on the jury can bring criminals to justice sooner than later, according to Prasser.

Without a Grand Jury indictment, 15 years can pass from crime to trial; however, jury indictments reduce the time to less than four years, he said.

Jury members are officers of the court and take an oath of secrecy for their lifetime.

“It is an awesome responsibility,” Prasser said.

—Barbara Diamond

Twitter: @CoastlinePilot