Action 21.
Regular Board of Supervisors Meeting
Legal Defender
- Meeting Date:
- 05/10/2016
- Title:
- Request for additional funding of Legal Defender's currently open Attorney I/II position
- Submitted By:
- Susana Urcadez, Legal Defender
- Department:
- Legal Defender
Presentation:
No A/V Presentation
Recommendation:
Approve
Document Signatures:
BOS Signature NOT Required
# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:
Submitted for Signature:
0
NAME
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Joel Larson
TITLE
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Legal Defender
Mandated Function?:
Federal or State Mandate
Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:
or Basis for Support?:
11-584
Docket Number (If applicable):
Information
Agenda Item Text:
Approve an increase to the Legal Defender total salary fund of $21,500, or $25,643 including benefits, for the purpose of filling a vacant attorney position for felony case representation.
Background:
Between FY 10/11 and FY 14/15 felony cases requiring attorney appointment by the Indigent Defense Coordinator dropped to a five year average of 695 cases. The Indigent Defense Coordinator is now projecting that felony cases for FY 15/16 will exceed that five year average by 44% for a total of 1,004 cases. In order to effectively handle this large volume of cases, this office needs a full complement of experienced counsel able to handle voluminous and complex matters at both the Early Resolution Court (ERC) and trial level. Many of the cases include serious charges and require experienced counsel. The current Legal Defender total salary fund budget will not support filling our vacant attorney position with an experienced attorney capable of handling these cases.
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
Once approved the Legal Defender will work with the Human Resource Department to recruit and fill the vacant attorney position as a senior level position at a salary of $78,492.00.
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
Additional cost to county general fund in the form of private attorney appointments to felony cases that could otherwise be represented by the Legal Defender.
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
Please notify Susana Urcadez of the Legal Defender Department when approved to increase the Legal Defender's Attorney II/III salary fund.
Fiscal Impact
- Fiscal Year:
- FY15/16
- One-time Fixed Costs? ($$$):
- $25,643
- Ongoing Costs? ($$$):
- $25,643
- County Match Required? ($$$):
- 0
- A-87 Overhead Amt? (Co. Cost Allocation $$$):
- 0
- Source of Funding?:
Fiscal Impact & Funding Sources (if known):
General funds needed to increase Legal Defender total salary fund by $21,500 plus $4,143 in benefits for a total of $25,643 to fill one vacant attorney position as an Attorney III.