GRAND JURY ASSEMBLES IN MISSISSIPPI COUNTY

CHARLESTON -- A grand jury convened by Presiding Circuit Judge David A. Dolan has begun meeting in Mississippi County.

The grand jury was recently impaneled after meeting with the Mississippi County prosecuting attorney, Jennifer Raffety, and various law enforcement officials.

The grand jury will remain impaneled for a term of six months and will meet at various locations in the county to entertain cases and investigations ranging from arson and assault to drug manufacturing and distribution.

The level of drug manufacturing and drug-related crimes has risen to such a level that the investigatory ability of the grand jury was an efficient way to curtail the supply side of the drug market by bringing dealers, distributors and manufacturers to justice, according to Mississippi County officials.

The demand side of the drug market will be addressed by the addition of a judicial commissioner who will take office in the next month as the "drug commissioner" for the 33rd Circuit to handle drug cases.

Dolan said the grand jury system is a very efficient way of bringing offenders to justice while involving the community in the criminal justice system.

Officials are requesting full cooperation with the grand jury from everyone. Although the grand jury presently has numerous cases, anyone interested in referring specific matters to the grand jury may do so through the Mississippi County prosecuting attorney's office.