Featured in last week’s
CSAC Bulletin, information was shared about the Office of the
State Public Defender (OSPD) hosting a webinar to provide and
answer any questions about how counties can use Byrne JAG funding
to support indigent defense programs. OSPD, along with the Chief
Public Defender of Contra Costa County, will host this webinar on
Monday, November 7, 2022 from 1:15 – 2:15 pm. To
register for the webinar:
Zoom Registration Link.
The purpose of this webinar is to encourage counties to apply for
the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG)
program as a way to increase the quality of your indigent defense
systems. The Byrne JAG program has allocated $47 million, over
three years, for California counties. The Board of State and
Community Corrections (BSCC) distributes the Byrne JAG grant
funding. Individual counties are eligible for an award of up to
$3,136,875 (depending on the size of the county). The Byrne JAG
program can be used to support indigent defense initiatives in a
number of ways. In fact, BSCC identifies “innovations in
indigent defense” as a priority area of need to be addressed by
the grant. The application deadline is December 2,
2022.
Click here for an information sheet that provides
details on the Byrne JAG grant and how to apply to use it
for indigent defense. Byrne JAG is a federal grant opportunity
and is the leading source of federal justice funding for state
and local jurisdictions. One of the priority areas of need
identified for this funding in California is innovations in
indigent defense.
