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County extends first-appearance counsel grant to spend remaining funds
Summary
Don Phillips, the county's assigned counsel administrator, secured approval to extend the current first-appearance counsel grant for one year so remaining funds (about $237,000) can be used to support attorneys covering off-hours arraignments.
Don Phillips, the county's assigned counsel administrator, asked the Public Safety Committee to authorize a one-year extension of the fourth county first-appearance grant to allow remaining funds to be spent before a successor grant begins.
Phillips told the committee the original grant totaled $346,290 and that about $237,000 remains. He described how the grant pays stipends and mileage for two to three attorneys who cover off-hours arraignments across the county and noted the grant helps maintain continuous attorney coverage.
Why it matters: The extension preserves funding for public-defender/assigned-counsel coverage at arraignments and helps maintain around-the-clock attorney availability for off-hour proceedings.
The committee moved and carried the authorization. Phillips said staff will proceed with grant administration and the county will accept the next grant when this one is fully spent.
