Title
Adopt Resolution to:
a. Accept a grant award (“Grant Award”) Number 20162615, Connecting Formerly Incarcerated Individuals to Health Resources, in the amount of $25,000 from The California Endowment to assist formerly incarcerated individuals in connecting with legal programs, including criminal record clearance efforts, to improve health and well-being in Monterey County; and
b. Approve execution by the Public Defender of a letter of agreement (“Grant Agreement”) with The California Endowment, setting forth the terms and conditions of the Grant Award; and
c. Authorize increase in appropriations and revenues of $25,000 for Public Defender Budget Unit 001-2270-PUB001-8169 in the FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget, financed by a release of restricted Public Defender revenues (BSA 001-3041-PD01), financed by the Grant Award (4/5ths vote required); and
d. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the FY 2021-22 Public Defender’s Adopted Budget by increasing appropriation and estimated revenues by $25,000, Fund 001, Appropriation Unit PUB001 (4/5ths vote required).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Accept a grant award (“Grant Award”) Number 20162615, Connecting Formerly Incarcerated Individuals to Health Resources, in the amount of $25,000 from The California Endowment to assist formerly incarcerated individuals in connecting with legal programs, including criminal record clearance efforts, to improve health and well-being in Monterey County; and
b. Approve execution by the Public Defender of a letter of agreement (“Grant Agreement”) with The California Endowment, setting forth the terms and conditions of the Grant Award; and
c. Authorize increase in appropriations and revenues of $25,000 for Public Defender Budget Unit 001-2270-PUB001-8169 in the FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget, financed by a release of restricted Public Defender revenues (BSA 001-3041-PD01), financed by the Grant Award (4/5ths vote required); and
d. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the FY 2021-22 Public Defender’s Adopted Budget by increasing appropriation and estimated revenues by $25,000, Fund 001, Appropriation Unit PUB001 (4/5ths vote required).
SUMMARY:
The Public Defender Office was awarded $25,000 by the California Endowment Grant in January 2016 to assist the Public Defender’s Office in community outreach and education on Proposition 47 (Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, November 4, 2014) and other criminal record clearance efforts. A balance sheet sub-account, PD01, was created for this amount under Public Protection restricted revenues (001-3041) and will be depleted with this action.
DISCUSSION:
On November 4, 2014, the California electorate passed, by referendum, Proposition 47, which converts many nonviolent offenses, such as drug and property offenses, from felonies to misdemeanors. As such, community outreach, education, and legal support is necessary to ensure the greatest possible number of affected individuals in the surrounding community receive the proposition’s benefit.
The California Endowment, in conjunction with other interested local community organizations, selected Monterey County, through the Public Defender’s Office, for award of a $25,000 grant to help provide community outreach, education, and legal support in processing, filing, and litigating applicable sentence conversion petitions, along with such other criminal record clearance opportunities for the applicants. The Public Defender intends to use the funding to
update technology and create attorney space for mentorship and leadership opportunities. This allows the office to guide attorneys, law assistants and interns to assist with research, to understand the legal system and applicable laws, and in turn provide legal support and services including post sentence relief to our clients which includes the indigenous communities of Monterey County. As stated in the attached correspondence from the California Endowment, the broad purpose of the grant is to connect formerly incarcerated individuals to health, social services, legal assistance, and other programs. The grant, by its terms, may only be used for the purposes identified.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Board voted to allow the Public Defender to accept this grant in 2016. Budget Committee supported the increase in appropriations during its March 30, 2022 meeting.
FINANCING:
The Public Defender’s office seeks Board approval of a budget increase in appropriations and revenues of $25,000 for Public Defender Budget Unit 001-2270-PUB001-8169 in the FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget. The grant amount of $25,000 was awarded under the California Endowment Grant in 2016 and requires no financial leveraging through other federal, state, or local funds or other social investments. The Public Defender seeks Board approval to use these previously restricted Public Protection revenues (001-3041-PD01) in the Public Defender’s balance sheet sub-account for the intended purposes.
There will be no impact on the County General Fund.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This recommendation meets the Board’s strategic initiatives by promoting an organization that practices efficient and effective resource management and by creating a safe environment for communities to thrive and grow while reducing violent crimes.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
__Economic Development
X_Administration
__Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
X_Public Safety
Prepared by: Becky Avila, Management Analyst II, ext.3048
Approved by: Susan Chapman, Public Defender, ext. 5806
Attachments:
Board Report
Resolution
California Endowment Grant Program