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 Lead Paralegal position; this position is fully grant funded
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approve request to create, post, and fill one Lead Paralegal 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 is responsible for providing qualified, effective assistance of counsel guaranteed by the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Michigan. The Office of the Public Defender will continue to expand through next fiscal year, taking more of the indigent criminal defense caseload in-house. Our staff attorneys represent individuals charged with high-severity felonies. Attracting and retaining skilled and dedicated support staff is crucial to high-quality and effective representation.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
The new position will need to be created and posted. Pay scale and job description were developed in consultation with Human Resources.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The position is fully grant funded through MIDC, 2921-283.00. No County appropria...
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