Public and conflict defender offices authorize rollover funds, buy new defense software; conflict defender reports rising staff levels
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Summary
The committee approved a budget modification to roll unspent funds into 2025 for the public defender and conflicts office and approved a software agreement for defense counsel; the conflict defender reported growth in active and semi-active staff.
The Public Safety Committee approved a budget modification Aug. 6 to roll unspent funds into the 2025 budget for the public defender—s office and the conflicts office to purchase equipment and outfit new conflicts office space. Public Defender J.R. Santana Carter said the funds were held back during 2024 construction and will be used to buy equipment once the new conflicts office is ready. The committee approved the budget modification by voice vote. The committee also approved a software agreement requested by the public defender—s office after staff who attended training endorsed the program; the director of IT reviewed it and the committee approved moving ahead. Conflict Defender Peter Deggman reported staff levels of 49 active and 14 semi-active defenders and said recent recruitment outreach has helped the offices attract candidates, which he said was atypical compared with prior years.