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Defender’s office reports two $100,000 DCJS grants and progress on assigned counsel program
Summary
The defender’s office told the committee it expects roughly $400,000 in reimbursable grant revenue and announced two DCJS block grants of $100,000 each to fund a discovery specialist and a criminal-court paralegal; lease and assigned-counsel program logistics remain pending.
A representative of the defender’s office told the Otsego County Public Safety and Legal Affairs Committee on April 16 that the office expects about $400,000 in reimbursable grant revenue for the prior quarter and confirmed receipt of two DCJS block grants.
The grants — identified on the record as “Aid to Defense for Discovery” and “Aid to Defense Supplemental” — were presented as $100,000 each and are intended to fund positions in the defender’s office, including a discovery specialist and a paralegal for the criminal-court side. The defender’s office representative said those grants are used to cover two positions 100% through ILS reimbursement.
On the assigned counsel program, the office reported the most recent draft is ready but that financial details remain to be finalized; the speaker said the lease for physical space is pending completion of one contractor quote. The representative also said Delaware County has indicated it will pay the rent for its share of the space, which must be reflected in the program’s financial plans.
The defender’s office said it will bring back personnel and budget proposals for the coordinator position and finalize contracts/leases once outstanding quotes are received; no formal motions or votes on these items were recorded in the public portion of the transcript.
