To: Martin L. Cousineau, Finance Committee Chairperson
From: Nathaniel C. Perry, III, Chief Public Defender
title
RE: Approval of a request to create, post, and fill one Mitigation Specialist position at Genesee County's Office of the Public Defender; this position is fully grant funded
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approve request to create, post, and fill one Mitigation Specialist position; this position 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, as well as to "ensure the state's public defense system is fair, cost-effective, and constitutional while simultaneously protecting public safety and accountability." Under this mandate, the MIDC outlined nine standards for indigent defense. The last two standards were officially approved by LARA on October 24, 2023. /by statute, the MIDC provides funding to local systems to comply with the standards.
DISCUSSION:
The Office of the Public Defender continues to strive to provide high-quality interdisciplinary representation to those who are indigent in our community. Our FY23/24 MIDC grant includes funding for additional Mitigation Specialist to assist defense counsel with client advocacy by developing individualized sentencing plans with alternatives to incarceration. This will also assist with reducing overcrowding when successfully advocating for appropriate community resources such as treatment and educational programs in lieu of jail sentences.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
The position will need to be created and posted.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
Funding for this position is covered through MIDC grant, 2921-283.00. All MIDC Grant funding is includ...
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