To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Public Defender’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Brian Morris, 565-3876
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Expanded Public Defense Services Grant
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution amending the Department Allocation List of the Public Defender’s Office, effective September 15, 2026, to Add 1.0 FTE Deputy Public Defender IV - Project through June 30, 2028; and delete 1.0 FTE Deputy Public Defender IV - Time Limited position.
end
Executive Summary:
On April 7, 2026, the Board of Supervisors approved the creation of and staffing plan for the Early Representation Unit (ERU) funded by the Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) Expanded Public Defense Services Grant. One of the positions supporting initial ERU implementation was a time-limited deputy public defender allocation originally created with funding from the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant then extended with funding from the Expanded Public Defense Services Grant. That position is now vacant.
To align with the grant work and timeline, the department requests Board approval to delete the vacant time-limited allocation and add replace it with a new deputy public defender IV - project allocation dedicated to ERU operations for the remainder of the OSPD grant term ending June 30, 2028.
Discussion:
The ERU was established to provide early, holistic representation within 24 hours of booking for individuals experiencing mental illness, substance use disorders, or housing instability. This work is funded by the OSPD Expanded Public Defense Services Grant, which provides $849,999 from February 1, 2026, through June 1, 2028, to support ERU operations and staffing.
On April 7, 2026, the Board approved acceptance of the Expanded Public Defense Services Grant from the Office of the State Public Defender in the amount of $849,999 for the period of February 1, 2026, through June 1, 2028. The grant funds the creation and operation of the Early Representation Unit (ERU), which provides timely, holistic legal representation within 24 hours of booking for individuals experiencing mental illness, substance use disorders, or housing instability. As approved, the grant scope includes rapid legal intervention; coordination with behavioral health, housing, and community-based providers; quarterly advisory committee participation; and data reporting on program effectiveness.
The April 7, 2026 action also included budgetary adjustments and amendments to the Public Defender’s Department Allocation List that extended two limited-term positions funded under the expiring Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG): a time-limited 1.0 FTE Deputy Public Defender IV and a 1.0 FTE Administrative Aide. As the JAG ended, these positions were repurposed as the initial staffing plan for ERU implementation through June 30, 2027.
The deputy public defender IV time-limited allocation subsequently became vacant. The ERU continues to require a dedicated attorney funded by the OSPD grant. To align with the original grant application, the department requests deleting the vacant time-limited deputy public defender IV allocation and replacing the time-limited allocation with a Deputy Public Defender IV - Project allocation which will be funded through the Expanded Public Defense Services Grant through June 30, 2028. This add/delete action ensures uninterrupted ERU staffing, maintains compliance with grant deliverables, and is a more appropriate classification for temporary, grant-funded positions.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
April 7, 2026 - Expanded Public Defense Services Grant
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$147,018 |
$308,737 |
0 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$147,018 |
$308,737 |
0 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$147,018 |
$308,737 |
0 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$147,018 |
$308,737 |
0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
No new general fund contribution is required for this action. The Deputy Public Defender IV - Project position will be fully funded through the OSPD Expanded Public Defense Services Grant already budgeted.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
Deputy Public Defender IV - Project |
$16,375.20 - $19,904.17 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
|
Deputy Public Defender IV - Time Limited |
$16,375.20 - $19,904.17 |
0.0 |
1.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
The Deputy Public Defender IV - Project position will be allocated through June 30, 2028.
Attachments:
Position Resolution
Grant Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.