To: Martin L. Cousineau, Finance Committee Chairperson
From: Nathaniel C. Perry, III, Chief Public Defender
title
RE: Create one Social Work intern and one Law Student Intern for the Michigan Holistic Defense Fellowship Program
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approve request to create one social work intern and one law student intern for the Michigan Holistic Defense Fellowship Program; both positions are fully grant funded
BACKGROUND:
Wayne State University Law School and the School of Social Work recently developed a unique, statewide Holistic Defense Fellowship in collaboration with the Michigan Justice Fund and Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC). This Fellowship will offer the opportunity for law and social work students to spend a summer interning at a public defense office in Michigan. Public defense offices are selected to participate in the Program based on their dedication and ability to practice holistic defense. Holistic defense is a multi-faceted approach to legal representation that recognizes the social and legal challenges that can drive individuals into the criminal justice system and the collateral consequences that inevitably result from involvement with the system. Genesee County has the honor of being one of five placement sites selected for the initial launch this summer 2024.
DISCUSSION:
To participate in the Holistic Defense Fellowship, Genesee County will need to create one Law Student Intern position and one Social Work Intern position. The Fellowship Director, a member of the MIDC staff, handles the application and screening process, as well as oversees program processes and evaluation. During the Fellowship, under the supervision of attorneys and social workers from the placement site, students will engage in substantive work and contribute to the holistic missions of the public defender office. Per the Fellowship program standards, interns must be provided compensation by the field placement site for a minimum of 320 hours of fieldwork. Each intern will be compensated at a rate of $20 an hour.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
The internship positions will need to be created and the positions filled. The hiring process was discussed with Human Resources in advance of this submission since the interns apply directly to the State and are then placed with the County to work and be paid.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The funding for these temporary no-benefit positions is provided by the MIDC grant. No County appropriation is required. Source of Funding: MIDC: 2921-283.00
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
None.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
The usual equipment will be required for the duration of the internship.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
The Office of the Public Defender is responsible for providing constitutionally guaranteed, quality legal representation to all adults charged with crimes in Genesee County who cannot afford an attorney, embracing diversity, equity and inclusion in our daily operations. These positions will further bring diverse people and groups to the table and encourage an inclusive, collaborative culture. Participation in this Fellowship will also promote community growth by creating a sense of place that retains and attracts people to our county while collaborating with other agencies.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Chief Public Defender to authorize establishing and filling one Social Work Intern position and one Law Student Intern position for participation in the Michigan Holistic Defense Fellowship program, said positions to be fully funded by the MIDC Grant 2921-283.00-702.000 and related fringe accounts with no County appropriation required, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documentation being on file with the official records of the March 6, 2024 meeting of the Finance Committee of this Board), and the Chief Financial Officer is directed to record the attached budget amendment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Board finds that extenuating circumstances exist supporting waiver of the hiring freeze, and directs the Director of Human Resources to have the necessary personnel position number created, as necessary, for said position and to commence the hiring process so that the position may be filled as soon as practicable in accordance with County policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreement.