Public Defense Pilot Program

Portal ID:
7060
Status:
Closed (35 total applications submitted)
Opportunity Type:
  • Grant
Last Updated:

Details

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.

Description:

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). 

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

  • Public Agency

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.

Important Dates

The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight.
The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.
February 10, 2022
The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.
3/1/2022 - 3/1/2025

Funding Details

The total projected dollar amount of the grant.
$148,500,000
A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
N/A
Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
$1,528 – $12,720,246
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.
No
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.
No
The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.
  • State

Funding Source Notes:

The Budget Act of 2021 (Senate Bill 129) established the Public Defense Pilot Program.

The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly).
  • Advance(s)

Funding Method Notes:

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.

How to Apply

State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

Resources