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Q&A
Funding increase for public defenders
3:32:24
·
74 sec
Council Member Salaam inquires about the additional $20 million baselined for the city's public defenders. MOCJ officials explain the allocation of funds and the intended use of the increase.
- $375,000 baselined for three additional personnel in IT, HR, and legal
- $20 million increase intended for hiring new attorneys to assist with caseload and intake assignment increases
- Flexibility provided to legal service providers to utilize funding according to their internally identified needs
Yusef Salaam
3:32:24
This plan reflects an additional $20,000,000 baselined for the city's public defenders, which includes $375,000 baseline for three additional personnel.
3:32:35
What three positions are being added?
Robert Fiato
3:32:43
The 375,000 is for agency operations and the three positions funded are for our IT functionality, human resources, and legal.
Yusef Salaam
3:33:00
And how is the full $20,000,000 increase being utilized to benefit public defenders?
Robert Fiato
3:33:08
The mayor stated intention with funding the $20,000,000 increase is for the legal service providers to hire new attorneys to assist with case load and intake assignment increases.
3:33:18
But as Director Logan mentioned, there is flexibility for the providers to utilize that funding in accordance with their own internally identified needs.
3:33:28
Working with ourselves and I want me to ensure that that money is spent in line with mock j's and the city's objectives with promoting a fair and equitable indigent defense system.