To: Martin L. Cousineau, Finance Committee Chairperson
From: Nathaniel C. Perry, III
title
RE: Approval of request to create, post, & fill four (4) intern positions at Genesee County's Public Defender’s Office; the cost of these positions is fully grant funded
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval of request to establish four intern positions within the Public Defender’s Office; the cost of these positions is fully grant funded.
BACKGROUND:
In 2008, the National Legal Aid and Defender Association published a report finding that the State of Michigan failed to provide constitutionally adequate defense counsel to those who cannot afford an attorney. In 2013, the state legislature created the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) to establish and enforce minimum standards for the delivery of indigent defense. By statute, the MIDC provides funding to local systems to comply with these standards.
DISCUSSION:
The MIDC provides funding for student interns in any field to support public defense. The Office of the Public Defender seeks to establish four intern positions. Grant funding is available to accommodate various internship program requirements for up to 10 weeks per semester, with funding in the budget for 2 semesters each calendar year for each of the positions.
Please note that the proposed Public Defender Intern positions are distinct from the established Holistic Defense Fellowship Internships. The Michigan Holistic Defense Fellowship is a statewide initiative, managed by a Fellowship Director, with Genesee County serving as one of its placement sites. This program is specifically designed for law and social work students. The proposed new Public Defender Intern positions would be open to students pursuing degrees in a variety of fields, with the goal of attracting individuals to careers in public service, public defense, and Genesee County. The interns would be compensated at the standard County intern rate.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
The new positions will need to be created; selected candidates will need to be onboarded.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
Funding for these temporary no-benefit positions is available in the MIDC grant. No County appropriation is required. Source of Funding: MIDC: 2921-283.00
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
None.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
Interns will require the usual equipment for the duration of their 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 internships will further bring diverse people and groups to the table and encourage an inclusive, collaborative culture. Our participation in a variety of internship programs will also promote community growth by creating a sense of place that retains and attracts people to our county while collaborating with other agencies, such as MSU’s Flint Study Away Program and Ferris State University’s School of Criminal Justice.
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, posting, and filling four (4) new Public Defender Intern positions, said new 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 April 16, 2025 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 numbers created, as necessary, for said positions and to commence the hiring process so that the positions may be filled as soon as practicable in accordance with County policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreement.