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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06222010 - C.90RECOMMENDATION(S): APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Administrator, or designee, to execute a contract amendment with the Contra Costa County Bar Association, effective June 23, 2010, to extend the term to August 31, 2010 and increase the payment limit by $680,000 to a new payment limit of $4,180,000 for continuing criminal conflict defense services. FISCAL IMPACT: Costs are budgeted for fiscal years 2009/10 and 2010/11 in General Fund Budget Unit 0248 – Conflict Defense Services, administered by the County Administrator. BACKGROUND: Since 1983, the County has contracted with the Contra Costa County Bar Association for the provision of conflict defense services. The original contract was in response to the escalating cost of conflict defense services under the old system of court-appointed counsel. APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 06/22/2010 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 Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor ABSENT:Susan A. Bonilla, District IV Supervisor Contact: JULIE ENEA (925) 335-1077 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: June 22, 2010 , County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: KATHERINE SINCLAIR, Deputy cc: C. 90 To:Board of Supervisors From:David Twa, County Administrator Date:June 22, 2010 Contra Costa County Subject:AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH CONTRA COSTA BAR FOR CRIMINAL CONFLICT DEFENSE SERVICES BACKGROUND: (CONT'D) Subsequently, in FY 1991/92, the Public Defender created an Alternate Defender’s Office to handle conflict cases. The cases referred to the Bar Association generally represent multiple co-defendant cases in which the Alternate Defender’s Office can represent only one co-defendant. The contract with the Bar Association for conflict defense services includes only the costs associated with representing criminal and delinquency cases referred to the Bar Association through a written affidavit conflict by the Public Defender and the Alternate Defender. Additionally, the County is required to pay for legal services in juvenile immigration and probate guardianship cases. In prior years, the contract also provided for legal representation in juvenile dependency cases. County-provided juvenile dependency services were terminated by the Superior Court in July 2008. The proposed contract amendment will permit the continuation of services while a new contract with improved cost accountability is negotiated. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: Payment of criminal conflict attorney services is a mandated County cost. If the recommended action is not approved, the contract with the Bar Association will terminate June 30, 2010 and the County will continue to be obligated to pay the Bar for cases previously assigned to the Bar and still in progress. The appointment and payment of private attorneys for new conflict cases that cannot be handled by the Alternate Defender’s Office will revert to the court-appointed method used prior to the Bar Association contract. All active and new criminal and delinquency conflict cases will be referred to the courts for appointment of defense counsel. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: