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.
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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 Defend...
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