To: Board of Supervisors
From: Ellen McDonnell, Public Defender
Report Title: Renewal and Amendment to Master Agreement with Techtivist LLC
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Defender, or designee, to execute a renewal and amendment to the Master Agreement for the Supply of Software, Support and Services with Techtivist LLC in an amount of $19,499 for the purchase of a license for the Techtivist app to manage and organize police misconduct data and records, for the period December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026, and annually thereafter in accordance with the terms of the Master Agreement until terminated by either party.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this request will result in $19,499 in contractual expenditures, which the department will cover 100% with its current County General Fund allocation.
BACKGROUND:
The Contra Costa County Office of the Public Defender (CCPD) is requesting authorization to execute a service agreement with Techtivist LLC for a police misconduct database.
Organizing and tracking police misconduct data has been very challenging for CCPD and the department needs a dedicated database to manage and organize police misconduct data and records. Public defenders need a police misconduct database to effectively organize and manage critical information that can impact their clients’ cases. Police officers with a history of misconduct have a pattern of behavior that is important to uncover and utilize in litigation.
A centralized database will allow public defender attorneys to quickly access, and cross-reference records of police officers involved in previous instances of excessive force, false arrest, racial profiling, or other unethical actions. This organization of data helps public defenders identify potential witnesses, corroborate client testimonies, and challenge the credibility of law enforcement officers during trial.
The Master Agreement contains a limitation of liability and an indemnification provision from the County to Techtivist.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
CCPD will not have the tools necessary to defend clients to the best of its ability.