Title
Approve and Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign Amendment #2, with Law Search Associates LLC Doing Business As Legal Research Associates for the provision of providing legal research material to inmates, with a new not to exceed amount of $160,000.00 and extending the agreement two (2) years with a term ending date of November 30, 2021.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Approve and Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign Amendment #2, with Law Search Associates LLC Doing Business As Legal Research Associates for the provision of providing legal research material to inmates, with a new not to exceed amount of $160,000.00 and extending the agreement two (2) years with a term ending date of November 30, 2021.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) request approval of Amendment #2 which increases the Agreement amount by $70,000.00 and extends the term of the agreement two (2) years.
Inmates housed in Jails have the right to access law libraries where they can research legal issues and prepare legal filings. This right was established by the U.S. Supreme Court in Bounds v. Smith <https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/430/817/case.html>, 430 U.S. 817, 821 (1997), which required each institution to “establish a main law library[.]”
Although the Monterey County Jail does not have a law library, inmates have access via Law Search Associates LLC Doing Business As Legal Research Associates. Legal Research Associates provides inmates with the ability to request legal information about cases, statues, etc. The information is requested via a form that the inmate fills out which is subsequently returned with the requested information within three (3) working days after receipt, if the requests requires more time the inmate is notified by a memo as to the reason for the delay.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has approved the agreement as to legal form, and the Auditor/Controller has reviewed for fiscal provisions. The county’s Information Technology Department has reviewed the agreement.
FINANCING:
The cost of this contract was included in the FY 2019-20 proposed budget. There will be no increase in General Fund Contribution resulting from this Board action.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This contract meets the Board’s strategic initiatives by “Promoting an organization that practices efficient and effective resource management”
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
Economic Development
X Administration
Health & Human Services
Infrastructure
Public Safety
Prepared by: Arthur Curtright, Management Analyst II, Extension #3708
Approved by: Steve Bernal, Sheriff/Coroner, Extension #3750
Attachment: Attachment A - Law Search Associates dba Legal Research Associates Original Agreement
Attachment B - Law Search Associates dba Legal Research Associates Amendment #1
Attachment C - Law Search Associates dba Legal Research Associates Amendment #2