The Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD)
will be hosting a webinar on either Friday, November 4,
2022 or Monday, November 7, 2022 to provide information
and answer any questions about how counties can use Byrne JAG
funding to support indigent defense. Please let us know if
you are interested and whether Friday or Monday works
best. The specific time is TBD.
The Byrne JAG program is the leading source of federal justice
funding to state and local jurisdictions.
The grant application process is now OPEN. This
funding CAN be used for indigent defense programs. In fact, one
of the priority areas of need identified for this funding in
California is innovations in indigent defense. There are
relatively few opportunities to receive federal funding for
indigent defense programs and we encourage your county to apply
for this funding.
Here are some project examples to consider (these ideas are just
examples and not in any way comprehensive)
Creating a public defender office if your county does not
have one
Funding bail or early representation units
For small or rural counties, partnering with other counties
to create a regional hub of forensic expert, immigration counsel,
investigators and social workers so that you can have access to
shared pooled resources (counties can apply through one
application for a joint project and receive the amount each
county would get individually)
Increasing social work and reentry supports within an office.
Attached is information about how some other jurisdictions have
used their Byrne Jag funds for indigent defense. The application
and instructions can be found
here. The deadline for application is December 2,
2022.
Prospective applicants are invited to attend a virtual Bidder’s
Conference to discuss any questions about the application,
eligibility, funding, Program Purpose Areas or the evaluation
process.
