HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09291987 - 1.36 TO`. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR ' l.lwIIA
County Administrator
DATE: September 18, 1987 Ca. rty
SUBJECT: AMENDMENT TO EXTEND CONTRACT WITH CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR
ASSOCIATION FOR CONFLICT DEFENSE SERVICES THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1988
SPECIFIC REQUEST S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AMID JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Authorize the County Administrator or his designee to execute a contract amendment, and
any further amendments thereto, with the Contra Costa County Bar Association for conflict
defense services to extend the termination date to September 30, 1988 and to increase the
payment limit to $1,370,000 for fiscal year 1987/88 and $400,000 for the period
July 1, 1988 to September 30, 1988.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funds are included in the approved budget for 1987/88 for the, costs incurred during the
current fiscal year. Funds for the operation of the contract in the first quarter of
fiscal year 1988/89 would be subject to appropriation by your Board during the County's
annual budget process.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS/BACKGROUND:
In 1983, your Board became very concerned about controlling the escalating costs of
court-appointed counsel in conflict cases. As directed by your Board, the County
Administrator's Office organized a task force which recommended that the County contract
with the Contra Costa County Bar Association for conflict defense services. A contract
was executed for 1984/85. A new contract was negotiated and approved with an increased
fee schedule effective October 1, 1985. This contract is currently in force and will
terminate on September 30, 1987. The recommended Board action will extend the contract
one more year.
The County Administrator's Office has been working' with the Bar Association to monitor and
control, to the extent possible, the costs of indigent conflict defense, a mandated
service. The Conflict Program Administrator has developed and implemented procedures so
that appointed counsel appears, when needed, before all the judges in all the Municipal
Court districts and the Superior Court (including referees)', without unnecessary costly
delays. In addition, attorneys on the Bar Association's Conflict Committee regularly
spend hours of uncompensated time reviewing attorney billings, and reduce amounts claimed
if they appear unjustified.
Justice System Programs and the Data Processing Divisions of the- County Administrator's
Office are currently developing with the Bar Association an automated record-keeping
system for the conflicts program. This should improve efficiency and provide more
detailed information for cost analysis and control.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
X RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
X APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE S :
ACTION OF BOARD ON f P- 'PROVED AS REC01MI-ICED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT �Z '� ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES; NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISOR ON THE DATE SHOWN.
cc: CAO-Justice System Programs ATTESTED
Contra Costa County Bar Association - --/-� /-- —
Public Defender PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Municipal and Superior Court Judges SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
BY
M382/7-83 .,DEPUTY
Amendment to Extend Contract with
CCC Bar Association for Conflict 2 September 18, 1987
Defense Services Through September 1988
CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the recommended action is not approved, appointment and payment of private attorneys
for conflict cases will revert to the method used before the 1984/85 contract and become
the responsibility of the judges again. Payment of conflict attorney services is a
mandated County cost.