To: Board of Supervisors
From: Ellen McDonnell, Public Defender
Report Title: Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of the Public Defender and National Legal Aid and Defender Association
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Defender, or designee, to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA) to host one (1) AmeriCorps VISTA member, with a cost share not to exceed $8,000, to provide performance measurement and data analysis services for the period June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total Payment to NLADA is not to exceed $8,000 and this is 100% budgeted by the General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA) is the administrator of a grant from the Corporation for National & Community Service. This grant allows NLADA to assign one (1) AmeriCorps VISTA member to the Contra Costa Office of the Public Defender (CCPD). The AmeriCorps VISTA member will be recruited and selected by CCPD, and will support the Department’s work on the Racial Justice Act cases. Responsibilities will include conducting data analysis, performing literature reviews, identifying relevant research and contextual information to strengthen case preparation, and assisting attorneys in evaluating potential patterns of racial and ethnic disparities.
The Department is requesting a retroactive effective date to the contract, due to internal administrative delays on processes required to verify and finalize the agreement language. These steps were necessary to ensure the terms included in the contract were accurate.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this MOU is not approved, the CCPD would not be eligible to receive the services of the AmeriCorps VISTA member.