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Adopt a resolution affirming the Public Defender’s submission of a grant application to the California Office of the State Public Defender to participate in the Expanded Public Defense Grant in the amount of $440,601 for the period of February 1, 2026 through June 1, 2028; and Authorize the County Administrator to sign the grant award agreements and any associated documents, amendments, operational contracts, or reimbursement claims
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _ X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _ X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Public Defender recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution affirming the Public Defender’s submission of a grant application to the California Office of the State Public Defender (“OSPD”) to participate in the Expanded Public Defense Grant in the amount of $440,601 for the period of February 1, 2026 through June 1, 2028; and Authorize the County Administrator to sign the grant award agreements and any associated documents, amendments, operational contracts, or reimbursement claims.
SUMMARY:
The 2025-2026 State Budget Act (SB 102) appropriated funding to support the expansion of public defense services, specifically holistic defense. $14,250,000 is available for direct grant awards. Holistic defense is a client-centered approach to public defense that addresses client needs beyond their immediate criminal case, including drivers into the criminal legal system and collateral consequences of legal system involvement.
The Solano County Public Defender application (Attachment B) requests funding to hire a Limited-Term Mental Health Clinician (Licensed) (LMHC) to service the clients of both the Public Defender and the Alternate Public Defender. The LMHC will serve as a Mitigation Specialist for clients with mental health and substance use challenges. As a Mitigation Specialist, the LMHC will conduct evaluations and recommend treatment plans with the goal of getting clients into treatment instead of incarceration.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
If awarded the grant, the Public Defender will return to the Board of Supervisors to add the Limited Term Mental Health Clinician (Licensed) (“LMHC”) from April 1, 2026 to April 1, 2028. The salary and benefits costs for this position will be entirely offset by funding from the OSPD Holistic Defense Grant. If awarded, the grant expenditures and revenues will be included in the FY2025/26 midyear financial report and in the department’s FY2026/27 Requested Budget. The OSPD Holistic Defense Grant does not include a match provision; therefore, there is no impact to the County General Fund.
The cost associated with preparing the agenda item is nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2025/26 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION
Holistic defense is a client-centered approach to public defense that addresses client needs beyond their immediate criminal case, including drivers into the criminal legal system and collateral consequences of legal system involvement. It generally relies on multi-disciplinary teams. Holistic defense programs benefit entire communities by connecting clients to supportive services that address the root causes of system involvement. Research demonstrates the strong public safety benefits of such an approach. Multiple studies document that steady income, stable housing, and access to services drastically reduce crime and make our communities safer.
Allowable uses of the funding include: (1) hiring social workers, mental health professionals, housing specialists or similar staff who can support holistic defense for clients; (2) establishing or expanding holistic defense initiatives; (3) specialized training for defense attorneys and interdisciplinary staff in holistic defense implementation; or (4) Data collection and independent evaluation on the impact of holistic defense as it relates to client outcomes and public safety.
Grantees must be prepared to start work by February 1, 2026 and use all funds within a 26-month grant period. All grant funds expire on June 1, 2028.
The Solano County Public Defender’s application “Expanding Mitigation Services to Solano County Public & Alternate Defender Clients” (Attachment B) focuses on increasing access to mitigation services for the clients of both the Public Defender and Alternate Public Defender. Mitigation specialists are members of the defense team that focus on sentencing advocacy to reduce incarceration and increase opportunities for successful re-entry.
The Public Defender’s application requests funding for a Limited-Term Mental Health Clinician (Licensed) (LMHC) to conduct psychosocial assessments, individualized treatment plans, and sentencing recommendations for clients. This will provide expanded opportunities for clients to receive diversion and/or treatment in lieu of incarceration.
As part of the grant, the Public Defender will be required to collect data about grant funded activity, including outcomes, and report the data to OSPD biannually.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board can choose not to participate in this grant program; however, this alternative is not recommended as nonparticipation will result in the loss of the opportunity to request $440,601 in grant funding that would be used to expand services to clients of the Public Defender.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
No other agency involvement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION