A group of Greene County residents recently were selected for a special office.

County Attorney Thomas Laehn tells Raccoon Valley Radio seven people were randomly chosen to serve on the county’s grand jury for the next two years. He says grand juries have a few powers including being able to indict someone on criminal charges, subpoena witnesses and inspect the county jail, which in general Laehn believes inspecting the jail is an important aspect for the grand jury to do. 

“To ensure that we are recognizing and abiding by people’s constitutional rights, to make sure that all of the prisoners, inmates in our county jail are being provided access to an attorney, being provided adequate food and water, we’re not torturing people, and to make sure that our inmates are being treated in a humane and lawful manner.” 

Laehn describes why it is important for a grand jury to indict someone on criminal charges or to investigate someone.

“Often this would be true if the person who was suspected of committing a criminal offense would be another elected official or perhaps a law enforcement officer, where there could be a perception that I might be biased in making the decision about whether or not to bring a criminal charge.”

Laehn adds that during his tenure as Greene County Attorney he has never had to convene the grand jury, but he feels it important to have one in case a need is warranted.