Agenda

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C. 27

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Robin Lipetzky, Public Defender
Date:	April 9, 2019

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Establish the class of Deputy Public Defender III-Project (25T1) and add one Deputy Public Defender III-Project (25T1) position

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 04/09/2019

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Joanne Sanchez-Rosa (925) 335-8065
cc:	Joanne Sanchez-Rosa

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: April 9, 2019
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Position Adjustment No. 22424 to establish the class of Deputy Public Defender III-Project (25T1) (represented) and add one (1) full-time Deputy Public Defender III-Project (25T1) (represented) position at salary plan and grade JD5 2146 ($10,842 - $13,179) in the Office of the Public Defender.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Estimated total annual County Cost is approximately $200,384; total this fiscal year is $66,795. Funding source for this position is Public Safety Realignment Revenue (AB 109).

BACKGROUND:

Stand Together Contra Costa, an interdisciplinary, multi-sector rapid response network, provides legal services, and community education to support safety and justice for immigrant families in Contra Costa County. Grounded in community-based leadership development, capacity building and community empowerment, Stand Together Contra Costa is a public-private partnership hosted and managed by Contra Costa County's Public Defender's Office. This unique structure, in stewardship with a multi-stakeholder Management Team and Steering Committee, ensures a level of expertise, capacity, and transparency that has fostered both excellence and accountability.

Since its launch in March 2018, Stand Together Contra Costa has successfully provided vital services and resources to immigrant communities in Contra Costa County, in direct response to turbulent and often unpredictable times. To build on this initial success and continue to improve operations, consultants, Mahvash Hassan and Hang Tan, conducted a review of Stand Together Contra Costa's operations, procedures, and protocols. Their report includes key findings on what is working well, operational challenges, and recommendations for the 2018-2019 fiscal year.

One recommendation is to place a senior attorney position in the Public Defender's Office and retain a qualified and experienced attorney to ensure quality legal services are effectively and efficiently provided by the program. Placing this senior attorney in the Public Defender’s Office ensures expertise resulting from substantial case experience and demonstrates the county’s commitment to support immigrant community members. This will also allow the overburdened partner agencies to focus on community outreach and quality legal services pledged by the Stand Together Contra Costa team.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If this action is not approved, the project could not proceed with the key recommendations of the operational review and will not allow the project to continue to build on its original success and improve operations.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

No impact.