Title
Public Defender and Alternate Public Defender recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Public Defender to sign Funding-In Agreement BSCC 1505-25 with the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) which provides funding to the County through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Equipment and Training Program, in the total amount of $72,423, for the performance period of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026;
2) Delegate authority to the Public Defender to execute future amendments related to this agreement that do not increase Net County Cost, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval, as applicable, and subsequent administrative documents or required fiscal or programmatic reports;
3) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign a Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Budget Transfer Request to increase revenue and expenditures for the planned JAG Equipment & Training Program (4/5 vote required); and
4) Add six enterprise-grade computer systems to the FY 2025-26 Fixed Asset list in the amount of $30,000.
FUNDING: Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Equipment and Training Program.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Equipment and Training Program provides funds for the purchase of supplies, fixed assets, and training costs to support Court Programs. The Public Defender and the Alternate Public Defender have identified departmental needs that will assist with innovations in indigent defense that qualify for the grant program, including professional-grade cameras, drones for accessing difficult terrain, and enterprise-grade computer systems to manage large volumes of digital discovery. The funding will also be used to provide advanced training for investigators. These investments are designed to strengthen defense capacity, ensure timely access to evidence, and to support equitable representation for indigent clients.
Both the Public Defender's Office and the Alternate Public Defender's Office face growing challenges in managing discovery and conducting investigations. The equipment that will be purchased using the JAG funds will allow staff to manage digital discovery seamlessly and will provide investigative staff with reliable tools to document and analyze crime scenes. This strengthens the capacity of the County's indigent defense system by modernizing investigative and clerical tools across both offices, ensuring that defenders can keep pace with the technological demands and to provide equitable representation for clients. Specialized training for investigators and defenders will also give staff the skills necessary to handle the most complex cases and will greatly enhance the expertise of the staff to provide thorough, effective defense representation.
Equipment and training costs incurred for this grant will be charged to the Public Defender's Office as the lead agency. Equipment will be transferred to the Alternate Public Defender’s Office once received.
The Budget Transfer Request adds revenue and appropriations for the planned program costs to the Public Defender's Office, including fixed asset enterprise-grade computer systems with an estimated cost of $5,000 each.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could decline the acceptance of the award, and the Public Defender would not be able to participate in the program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No impact to Net County Cost. All expenses will be reimbursed by the JAG funding.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Teri Monterosso, Public Defender