OPEN GRAND JURY INFO, BURKE SAYS; SUPERVISOR SEEKS LAW ALLOWING DISCLOSURE.

Byline: Lee Condon Daily News Staff Writer

Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke is asking for more openness from the county grand jury, which has always investigated city and county government agencies in total secrecy.

In a motion to be considered Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors, Burke asks that the grand jury be allowed to share details about evidence gathered in the course of civil investigations. State law now bars jurors from making such disclosures.

``The grand jury has been very adamant about this,'' she said. ``They say that when their reports are published, their credibility is often questioned because they can't attach background information to the reports. They asked our office to do something about this for them.''

In her motion, Burke has asked county lawyers to draft proposed legislation so the board can ask state lawmakers to make changes in the rules governing grand juries throughout the state.

The grand jury is made up of 23 county residents who serve one-year terms. The panel spends most of its time hearing testimony in criminal cases and then deciding whether to hand down indictments.

The grand jury also has a civil function, acting as a watchdog over city and county government. Each year, grand jury committees issue reports on problem areas facing various government departments.

Last year, supervisors and officials with the Department of Children and Family Services were frustrated after the grand jury issued a report critical of foster-care group homes in the county. They said the report, which alleged mistreatment of children, was too vague and did not give the department any details on specifics so they could go out and correct problems.

Under state law, the grand jury cannot share transcripts of testimony.