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Approve a contract with Partners for Justice in the amount of $486,367 for a term July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027 to provide collaborative defense services to pretrial clients in the Public Defender’s Office; and Delegate Authority to the County Administrator to execute the contract and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate of $74,999
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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 approve a contract with Partners for Justice in the amount of $486,367 for a term July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027 to provide collaborative defense services to pretrial clients in the Public Defender’s Office; and Delegate Authority to the County Administrator to execute the contract and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate of $74,999
SUMMARY:
The Public Defender is requesting approval of a contract with Partners for Justice, a nonprofit, to assist public defender clients prior to their first court appearance, connecting them with access to services such as housing, employment, and health.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost for the two-year contract is $486,367 for advocate compensation, benefits, training, support, coaching and indirect expenses. This contract will be funded with 2011 Public Safety Realignment (AB 109) funds and was approved at the May 22, 2024 Community Corrections Partnership meeting. The contract will be included in the FY2025/26 Requested Budget for the Public Defender’s Office with offsetting AB 109 revenue.
DISCUSSION:
The Public Defender is requesting approval of a contract using 2011 Public Safety Realignment (AB 109) funds to provide holistic collaborative defense services. By providing holistic defense, advocates collaborate to identify and address the consequences of poverty and the justice system, helping people move from obstacles to opportunities.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of holistic defense in ensuring fair and just outcomes in our criminal justice system. Holistic defense not only focuses on legal representation, but also takes into account the underlying social, economic, and personal factors that may contribute to a person's involvement in the criminal justice system. This approach has been proven to lead to better outcomes for individuals, reduce recidivism rates, and ultimately save taxpayer money.
Holistic defense acknowledges that individuals facing criminal charges often have complex backgrounds, which may include issues such as mental health, substance abuse, poverty, or lack of access to education and job opportunities. By addressing these underlying factors, holistic defense can help break the cycle of criminal behavior and promote rehabilitation.
Research has consistently shown that holistic defense leads to better legal outcomes, including reduced pretrial detention, shorter sentences, and lower recidivism rates. By providing comprehensive support and services to defendants, holistic defense increases the likelihood of successful rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
To accomplish these goals, the Public Defender is seeking to contract with Partners for Justice, a non-profit organization, for two advocates to provide holistic defense and advocacy for individuals who may not otherwise seek or complete services for a two-year period from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027. Partners for Justice is a nationally renowned non-profit organization with proven results in several counties, including in California.
Contracting with Partners for Justice will enhance and expand pretrial services for indigent adults starting prior to their first court appearance, Based on objectives defined at the outset of each client case, advocates will support clients with service goals, which may be in the areas of housing; employment; benefits; health; family, children and youth; criminal case support; and other less common areas of service. Advocates will focus on clients who are low risk to public safety and less likely to be served by Probation or other established pretrial service providers. Partners for Justice will also provide advisory assistance to the department on the implementation of collaborative defense practices, such as developing intake and referral systems and training attorney and non-attorney staff. In addition, they will produce quarterly reports on key metrics.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to approve the contract; however, this alternative is not recommended because the Solano County Community Corrections Partnerships approved the funding of this contract at the May 22, 2024 meeting.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County Administrator’s Office has reviewed this submittal and County Counsel has reviewed the contract and had approved it as to form.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION