DATE: August 5, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Antoinette Taillac, Public Defender
SUBJECT: Board of State and Community Corrections Public Defense Pilot
Program Salary Resolution Amendment
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve Amendment to the Salary Resolution adding (2) Defense Attorney IV, (1) Defense Attorney III, (1) Paralegal I, (1) Defense Social Worker III, and (1) Defense Investigator II to Public Defender's Org 2880, effective August 4, 2025, as reflected in Appendix "C".
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost (NCC) associated with the recommended actions, as the costs for the new positions will be offset by grant funding from the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Public Defense Pilot Program (PDPP). Approval of the recommended actions will add two Defense Attorney IV's, one Defense Attorney III, one Paralegal I, one Defense Investigator II, and one Defense Social Worker III to the Public Defender's Office for the extended 22-month pilot program. These same positions were automatically deleted on March 2, 2025, the original sunset date of the pilot program, but because the program was extended, these positions continue to be needed. For the 2025-2026 budget year these positions need to be added to the salary resolution to reflect the correct number of positions within the Public Defender's Office and to properly budget for these positions. This item is Countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If your Board does not approve the recommended actions, the Department will be required to layoff positions that are funded by the grant. Funds may need to be returned if the department cannot fulfill the conditions of the appropriation (e.g., staffing, contracting, or program execution). Attorneys, investigators, and paralegals funded by PDPP help absorb the specialized work required by the grant. Without them, existing staff would face heavier burdens, risking delays and diminished quality of representation. Funding for the 22...
Click here for full text