DATE: March 1, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Elizabeth Diaz, Public Defender
SUBJECT: Public Defender Reorganization
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve amendment to the Salary Resolution regarding the Public Defender’s administrative structure, as reflected on Appendix “D”, adding one Chief Defense Attorney position in combination with the existing Defense Attorney series without increasing the total number of Attorney positions in Public Defender Org 2880 effective March 14, 2016.
REPORT
There is no increase in net County cost associated with the recommended action. The recommended action will maximize the functionality of the administrative structure of the Public Defender’s Office (PD) with three managers to address the immediate and long term goals of the office.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, staffing for the Department will remain unchanged.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in net County cost associated with the recommended action. The cost associated with the additional Chief Defense Attorney position for the remainder of FY 2015-16 is $3,534 and will be fully offset with excess departmental salary savings in the Department’s Org 2880.
DISCUSSION:
The current structure of the PD’s Office (as detailed in Attachment A), does not meet the administrative needs of the Office. The proposed reorganization (as detailed in Attachment B) will revise the Department’s administrative structure by placing three equal managers in the PD’s administration to address the immediate and long term goals of the office. The proposed structure of PD’s administration will also allow for an additional Chief Defense Attorney to oversee four defense courts currently assigned to the Assistant Public Defender.
The current administrative structure allows for two Chief Defense Attorney positions with a maximum of sixty-five Attorney positions in the series. At this time, the Department is requesting to increase the number of Chief Defense Attorney positions to three in combination with the Attorney series. This action will not increase the total number of Attorney positions.
The administrative functions of the PD’s Office will be better served with three Chief Defense Attorneys with each position maintaining oversight of the various units pertaining to the administrative, fiscal, defense, and public service needs.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
Department of Personnel Services
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Attachments A-B
Salary Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck