Public Defense Pilot Program

Purpose: Public Defense Pilot Program funds must be utilized for indigent defense providers, including public defenders, alternate defenders, and other qualifying entities that provide indigent defense in criminal matters for the purposes of workload associated with the provisions in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 1170 of, and Sections 1170.95, 1473.7, and 3051 of, the Penal Code. The Budget Act of 2021 (Senate Bill 129) established the Public Defense Pilot Program. Public Defense Pilot Program funds must be utilized for indigent defense providers, including public defenders, alternate defenders, and other qualifying entities that provide indigent defense in criminal matters for the purposes of workload associated with the provisions in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 1170 of, and Sections 1170.95, 1473.7, and 3051 of, the Penal Code. Applications must be received by 5:00 P.M. on Friday, January 14, 2022. Applicants must ensure the application packet is signed with a digital signature OR a wet blue ink signature that is then scanned with the completed proposal package. Submit one (1) completed proposal packet via email to: publicdefensegrant@bscc.ca.gov. The grant project period is from March 1, 2022 to Jan 1, 2025. Grantees will be required to submit final progress reports and any final data required for the statewide evaluation by March 1, 2025. All California counties are eligible to participate in the Public Defense Pilot Program. Only one (1) application may be submitted on behalf of the County. Applications must be submitted by the Board of Supervisors or the County Administrative Officer. The Board of Supervisors or County Administrative Officer may also delegate the County Public Defender’s Office or an Alternate Defender’s Office as the applicant entity. Public Defense Pilot Program funds must be utilized for indigent defense providers, including public defenders, alternate defenders, and other qualifying entities that provide indigent defense in criminal matters for the purposes of workload associated with the provisions in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 1170 of, and Sections 1170.95, 1473.7, and 3051 of, the Penal Code (Appendix A). In support of these efforts, each applicant will develop a Project Work Plan that identifies measurable project goals, objectives, and commensurate timelines (Appendix B). Pursuant to the Budget Act, county funding allocations are determined by the total adult population. The BSCC calculated the amount of funding each county is eligible to receive by dividing $49,500,000 by the county's share of the total adult population using the 2021 projected population figures from the Department of Finance. Funding will be allocated to counties as shown in Table I. A detailed funding chart is also provided as Appendix C. The Public Defense Pilot Program does not have a match requirement. Disbursement of grant funds occurs in one lump sum upon execution of the Grant Agreement. The State Controller’s Office (SCO) will issue the warrant (check) to the County Applicant as listed on the Applicant Information Form. Grantees must submit statements of expenditures to the BSCC through an online process no later than 45 days following the end of the invoicing period. Grantees must maintain adequate supporting documentation for all costs claimed on invoices. Grant award recipients are required to submit progress reports; the frequency of the reports (e.g., annual, bi-annual, quarterly) will be determined by the outside evaluator (see below). Eligible Applicants: All California counties are eligible to participate in the Public Defense Pilot Program. Only one (1) application may be submitted on behalf of the County. Applications must be submitted by the Board of Supervisors or the County Administrative Officer. The Board of Supervisors or County Administrative Officer may also delegate the County Public Defender’s Office or an Alternate Defender’s Office as the applicant entity.

• PSCDisadvantaged Communities, Law, Justice, and Legal Services

• Grant guidelines

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  publicdefensegrant@bscc.ca.gov