To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Public Defender’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Jeremy Scannell, 565-3869
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize the Public Defender to execute a Memorandum of Understanding between the Sonoma County Public Defender’s Office and the Santa Rosa Police Department establishing an agreement to jointly participate in the U.S. Department of Justice, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.
B) Delegate authority to the Public Defender to enter into a subaward agreement with the Santa Rosa Police Department for participation in the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program and accept $44,022 in grant funding for the term of October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2027.
end
Executive Summary:
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program is a leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions to support program areas in the criminal justice system including public defense, prosecution, and law enforcement. The JAG program funds are allocated to each state based on its share of the national population, crime expenditure data, and violent crime statistics. Funds are then split between the state and local jurisdictions. Based on the eligibility formula used by the Department of Justice both the County of Sonoma and the City of Santa Rosa have been allocated funds through this program.
The City of Santa Rosa will act as the fiscal agent for the Federal Fiscal Year 2023-2024 program and, once the award is made, will be responsible for distribution of grant funds to the Public Defender’s Office through a subaward. Grant funds will be used to hire Extra-Help administrative support to provide administrative and clerical support to the Public Defender’s Holistic Defense Team. Support needs of this team include obtaining discovery, maintaining client files, and preparing and filing various documents with the court.
Discussion:
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program was established by Congress in 2005 to replace funding previously disbursed through the Byrne Formula Grant Program and Local Law Enforcement Block Grant. Allocations are made based on state population, crime expenditure data, and violent crime data as determined by the Bureau of Justice Assistance in conjunction with the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The County of Sonoma rotates this grant program among the four justice departments: Public Defender, District Attorney, Sheriff’s Office, and Probation. Per the rotation, the grant for the Federal Fiscal Year 2023-2024 was designated for Probation, however through an agreement between Probation and the Public Defender’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office will be receiving the grant funds.
The County of Sonoma and the City of Santa Rosa have been identified by the Bureau of Justice Assistance as disparate municipalities and are required to submit a joint application for the 2023 - 2024 Federal Fiscal Year. The Sonoma County allocation is $44,022 and the City of Santa Rosa allocation is $71,388. A memorandum of understanding that identifies which jurisdiction will serve as the applicant or fiscal agent for joint funds must be completed and signed by the authorized representative for each participating jurisdiction. The City of Santa Rosa will act as the fiscal agent for the Federal Fiscal Year 2023-2024 program and, once the award is made, will be responsible for distribution of grant funds to the Public Defender’s Office through a subaward.
JAG program funds allow jurisdictions the ability to utilize funding for additional personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, training, technical assistance, and information systems for criminal justice. Program areas include law enforcement, prosecution and court programs, prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, and technology improvement, crime victim and witness, and mental health.
Through various grants the Public Defender’s Office has created a Holistic Defense Team consisting of the following staff: post-conviction relief attorney, mental health attorney, social services worker, DMV liaison (Administrative Aide).
The Holistic Defense Team supports clients of the Public Defender’s Office by addressing underlying causes that bring them into the criminal justice system. By working with clients after their criminal case has resolved, the Public Defender’s Office can decrease root causes that result in recidivism.
The work of the Holistic Defense Team supports the program areas of 1) prevention and education, and 2) mental health that are identified in the JAG program. Grant funds received under this program will be used to hire Extra-Help administrative support to provide administrative and clerical support to the Public Defender’s Holistic Defense Team. Support needs of this team include obtaining discovery, maintaining client files, and preparing and filing various documents with the court.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
The Board has approved participation in the Justice Assistance Grant Program since 2005, and since 1996 under the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant. The Public Defender’s Office was last approved in 2020, and the Sheriff’s Office was approved in 2021. 2022 was the first year that the County of Sonoma and the City of Santa Rosa were required to participate jointly.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
44,022 |
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Total Expenditures |
44,022 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
44,022 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
44,022 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
With Board approval, the 2023 Justice Assistance Grant revenues and expenditures will be included as adjustments to the Public Defender’s Fiscal Year 2023-2024 final budget through consolidated budget adjustments. Justice Assistance Grant program funds represent one-time fundings with no match requirement from the County. Expenditures will be fully offset with grant revenue and there will be no increase to general fund net cost.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Memorandum of Understanding
Attachment 2 - JAG Project Narrative
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A