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Meeting Date:	04/11/2022
Letter of intent to submit a grant application
Submitted for:	Cornell Mickley	Submitted By:	Cornell Mickley
Department:	Pre-Trial Services

Subject:

Discussion and possible action to authorize Pre-Trial Services to submit a fiscal 2022-2023, multi-year grant application to the Texas Commission on Indigent Defense. This is the 2nd year of the multi-year grant to be requested to fund the existing weekend indigent defense coordinator. The necessary documents have been submitted for review to the Economic Development Department and the solicitation is compliant with the Webb County Single Point of Contact (SPOC) procedures. Webb County must provide a cash match of 40%, ($5,046.00) of the total project costs of $12,613.12. [Funding source for cash match: General Fund Account #1001-1160-001-463910-005]

Issue: Webb County has implemented a weekend magistrate process at the jail. The Pre-Trial Services Department has been delegated to take charge of the manpower needed to support the appointment of attorneys to indigent offenders that qualify at the front-end to the magistrate process during the weekend. This hinders our limited staff during the regular normal business hours of operation to provide effective, efficient and adequate services to indigent clients.

Solution: The acquisition of the grant funds will offset the Webb County personnel expenses for a period of four years and will provide adequate staffing for the weekend and our normal hours of operations.

Result: Webb County is required to be in compliance with all local and state legislative mandated concerning indigent defense in order to continue to receive the Formula Grant funding.

Background:

The Texas Indigent Defense Commission provides financial and technical support to counties to develop and maintain qualify, cost- effective indigent defense systems that meet the needs of the county and the requirements of the Constitution and state law.The commission may provide improvement grants for any programs, such as the weekend magistrate process that improves the provision of indigent defense services.

Previous Court Action:

Webb County Commissioners Court has approved funding for this project during its first year.

Fiscal Impact

Budget Account Number:	10011160001463910005
Funding Source:	General Fund Acct
Balance:	to be determined
Financial Impact:
Webb County must provide a cash match of 40%, ($5,046.00), of the total project costs of $12,613.12, potential salary costs for the part-time employee.

Attachments
Resolution
Letter of Intent to apply for a grant