To: Board of Supervisors
From: Ellen McDonnell, Public Defender
Report Title: Execute a Grant Award Agreement with the Office of the State Public Defender, Expanded Public Defense Grant
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT a Resolution No. to approve and authorize the Public Defender, or designee, to apply for, accept, and execute a grant award agreement, including any modifications or extensions thereof, pursuant to State guideline, with the Office of the State Public Defender, Expanded Public Defense Grant, in an amount not to exceed $850,000, to expand holistic legal representation for indigent clients impacted by California’s new Proposition 36, for the period February 1, 2026 through June 1, 2028.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Public Defender will receive up to $850,000 over a three fiscal year period to fund holistic defense services.
BACKGROUND:
The 2025-2026 Budget Act (AB 102) allocated funding for a grant program to expand public defense services, specifically to establish or expand holistic defense services.
The grant service period is 26 months, and allowable uses of the funding include:
• Hiring social workers, mental health professionals, housing specialists or similar staff who can support holistic defense for clients.
• Establishing or expanding any holistic defense initiative.
• Specialized training for defense attorneys and interdisciplinary staff in holistic defense implementation.
• Data collection and independent evaluation on the impact of holistic defense as it relates to client outcomes and public safety.
The Public Defender is seeking to apply for Expanded Public Defense Grant funds that will provide holistic representation to indigent clients charged with, or at high risk of being charged with, felony crimes as established by the state’s new Proposition 36 law. The intent of the proposed program is to enhance public safety and reduce criminal legal involvement for high-needs clients, such as those detailed in Contra Costa County’s Familiar Faces research project, by better connecting them to stabilizing resources, including public income benefits and CalAIM’s Medi-Cal-funded services.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The Public Defender will be unable to apply for and accept the grant.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
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IN THE MATTER OF Public Defense Grant award for the period February 1, 2026 through June 1, 2028.
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors, Contra Costa County, desires to undertake a certain project designated as holistic legal representation for indigent clients impacted by California’s new Proposition 36, to be funded in part from funds made available under the authority of the California office of the Public Defender.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Public Defender of the County of Contra Costa is authorized to execute, on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, the Grant Award Agreement, including any extensions or amendments thereof.
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