DATE: September 8, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: Response to 2025-2026 Fresno County Civil Grand Jury Final Report No. 1
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
TITLE
1. Review the findings and recommendations of the 2025-2026 Fresno County Civil Grand Jury Final Report No. 1, “Silent Guardians: The Unsung Work of the Fresno County Coroner’s Office” and adopt the recommended response; and
2. Order the Board’s response to the 2025-2026 Fresno County Civil Grand Jury Final Report No. 1 be filed with the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court.
REPORT
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The Fresno County Civil Grand Jury (Grand Jury) issued the 2025-2026 Final Report No. 1 (Report), examining the Coroner’s Office, and requested responses from the Board of Supervisors to Findings F2-F8 and Recommendations R1, R3, R4 and R6. Attachment A was prepared by the County Administrative Office for your Board’s consideration as its response to the Report. If the recommended actions are approved by your Board, the response will be submitted to the Presiding Judge, and a copy will be placed on file with the Clerk of Board.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no alternative action. California Penal Code, section 933(c) requires your Board to submit a response to the Presiding Judge within 90 days from the date the report was released to the public.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions.
DISCUSSION:
On June 11, 2026, the Report was posted to the Fresno County Superior Court’s website, which examined the Coroner’s Office’s facilities, staffing, caseloads, use of contracted forensic pathologists, and organizational structure under the Sheriff-Coroner model. The Grand Jury requested responses from the Board of Supervisors to Findings F2-F8 and R1, R3, R4 and R6. Your Board’s recommended responses to these Findings and Recommendations are included in Attachment A.
In the Report, the Sheriff-Coroner was included as a required respondent and County Administrative Officer was included as invited respondent. On August 6, 2026, the Sheriff-Coroner and County Administrative Officer submitted a joint response to the Presiding Judge, included as Attachment B.
California Penal Code section 933(c) requires your Board to submit its response to the Presiding Judge within 90 days from the date the Report was released to the public (by September 9, 2026). If the recommended actions are approved by your Board, Attachment A will be submitted to the Presiding Judge and a copy will be placed on file with the Clerk of the Board.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Attachment A
Attachment B
On file with Clerk - Grand Jury Report
CAO ANALYST:
Amy Ryals