Title
Adopt Resolution to:
a. Authorize the Public Defender or Assistant Public Defender to execute Grant Agreement number BSCC169-23 with the State of California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), for a no-cost extension providing the County of Monterey Public Defender with an additional twenty months, from July 1, 2023 through February 28, 2025, to continue the Indigent Defense Grant program Attorney & Case Management Enhancement (ACME) project originally executed under Grant Agreement number BSCC 169-20; and
b. Approve the delegation of authority to the Public Defender or Assistant Public Defender to act on the County’s behalf to carry out and consummate all transactions contemplated during the grant period.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Adopt Resolution to:
a. Authorize the Public Defender or Assistant Public Defender to execute Grant Agreement number BSCC169-23 with the State of California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), for a no-cost extension providing the County of Monterey Public Defender with an additional twenty months, from July 1, 2023 through February 28, 2025, to continue the Indigent Defense Grant program Attorney & Case Management Enhancement (ACME) project originally executed under Grant Agreement number BSCC 169-20; and
b. Approve the delegation of authority to the Public Defender or Assistant Public Defender to act on the County’s behalf to carry out and consummate all transactions contemplated during the grant period.
SUMMARY:
The Public Defender office applied and was awarded an Indigent Defense Grant to develop the Attorney and Case Management Enhancement project (ACME) through the State of California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) in the amount of $637,000 to be funded for a period commencing on February 15, 2021 through June 30, 2023. This 20 month, no-cost extension permits the Public Defender to continue expend the remaining grant funding of approximately $40,000 for ACME project.
DISCUSSION:
The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) is an independent statutory agency that provides leadership and technical assistance to the adult and juvenile criminal justice systems, expertise on Public Safety Realignment issues, a data and information clearing house, and provides assistance on a wide range of community corrections issues. The BSCC also administers public safety related to grant funding, including evidence-based practices to fight gangs, and works to address the over representation of youth of color in the justice system.
The Budget Act of 2020 (Senate Bill 74) established the Indigent Defense Grant Program and appropriated $10,000,000 in funding. Per the Budget Act, $9,800,00 is available for grants to nineteen counties with a population of 550,000 residents or less. The County of Monterey Public Defender is among one of the nineteen applicable counties who met eligibility for this grant. The County’s allocation was $637,000.
Funds awarded under the Indigent Defense Grant Program are used for the Public Defender’s Attorney and Case Management Enhancement (ACME) project. The ACME project enhances attorney support for indigent client defense by adding a searchable database to our current paperless digital case management system, streamlining the amount of time the court and client wait for the delivery of paper documents that are stored in offsite locations, and automatically sending text messages to remind indigent clients of the time and place of their upcoming court dates.
The uses of BSCC grant funds have resulted in a more efficient case management system benefiting the court and our defense of indigent clients. Further outcomes include attorneys allocating more of their time to ensure positive client outcomes by(1) reducing the time attorneys spend in digitizing and automating duties; and (2) reducing re-calendaring court dates caused by client non-appearances; (3) reducing the time attorneys spend in searching for testimony of recurring witnesses to the point of creating a searchable case database, having information quickly at hand will let attorneys efficiently determine the validity of prior conviction allegations, identify client eligibility for all types of post-conviction relief, and rapidly transfer case materials to subsequent counsel for appeal and writ matters; and (4) improving our method of measuring attorney workloads, thereby redistributing caseloads to achieve workload efficiencies.
In addition to the four related outcomes listed above, the ACME project included the purchase and installation of hardware and software, software training for attorneys and terabyte storage for digital evidence to reside within the case management database. We have designated an Assistant Public Defender as project director, a Finance Manager, and a Management Analyst to oversee day-to-day tasks and fiscal contacts.
ACME project evaluation (local evaluation plan and logic model for process and outcome designs and methods; data collection tools, methods, and analysis; fidelity monitoring; and local evaluation report) will be conducted, through a Memorandum of Understanding by the County of Monterey Health Department evaluation team that conducted the County’s BSCC Strengthening Law Enforcement grant and is currently conducting BSCC’s Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program grant.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed this report to legal form and Auditor-Controller has reviewed as to fiscal provisions.
FINANCING:
There will be no cost to the County General Fund associated with the recommendation.
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
__Public Safety
Prepared by: Becky Avila, Management Analyst II, Ext. 3048
Approved by: Susan E. Chapman, Public Defender, Ext. 5806
Attachments:
Resolution ACME BSCC 169-23
Indigent Defense Grant Agreement BSCC169-23