HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02092010 - C.19RECOMMENDATION(S):
ADOPT Position Adjustment Resolution No. 20774 to add two (2) permanent full-time
Paralegal (2Y7A) positions at salary level QV5 1169 ($3,399-$$4,132) in the Office of the
Public Defender.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The County recently entered into a side-letter with coalition labor organizations requiring
departments to limit the use of temporary employees to a maximum of 90 days. The Public
Defender's Office has worked with the County Administrator to establish a financial plan to
come into compliance with the new side-letter; this action is one part of this plan. Once
implemented in full, the plan will result in no additional General Fund impact to the
department for hiring permanent staff.
BACKGROUND:
Currently, our Office relies on two full-time temporary paralegals who, along with two
permanent paralegals, primarily conduct intake interviews of newly referred clients at the
jail and within the office. These positions
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 02/09/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: R. Lipetzky, 5-8086
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: February 9, 2010
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: EMY L. SHARP, Deputy
cc: Malinda Brown, Roxana Mendoza, Robin Lipetzky
C.19
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Robin Lipetzky, Public Defender
Date:February 9, 2010
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:ADD (2) PARALEGAL POSITIONS IN THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
are absolutely essential to the smooth functioning of our office. The interviews must be
done on a daily basis and must be done quickly. For each newly referred client, we must
have a paralegal gather the following information prior to the next court date: (1)
financial eligibility; (2) background information regarding the charged offenses; (3)
information regarding prior offenses; and (4) information that can be used to argue for a
reduction in bail or an O.R. release. Many of the referred clients speak only in Spanish
and must be seen by a Spanish speaking paralegal.
In addition to conducting the initial client interviews, the paralegals must go through the
discovery provided on each case to determine whether there is a conflict of interest that
must be declared before the first court appearance. This is painstaking and time intensive
work that must be done by persons who are knowledgeable and trained in the Law and
Justice system and in the conflict protocols for the office.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
ATTACHMENTS
P300_3889 for 2 Paralegals