FY 2015 – 16 MOE Budget
April 2015
Presented by: Brendon Woods, Public Defender
To zealously protect and defend the rights
of our clients through compassionate and
inspired legal representation of the highest
quality, in pursuit of a fair and unbiased
system of justice for all.
The Public Defender is the
primary defense attorney
for indigent individuals
accused of crimes or
otherwise facing
potential incarceration or
loss of liberty.
For these individuals,
legal representation at
public expense is
mandated by the:
› US Constitution
› CA Constitution
› County Charter
If the Public Defender has a legal or ethical
conflict of interest the case is referred to the
Court Appointed Attorneys Program (CAAP),
which operates pursuant to a contract
administered by the County Administrator. The
Indigent Defense budget also includes
expenses for defendants represented by
CAAP.
The Public Defender provides defense services for the
following:
 Defendants whose charges expose them to a
possible punishment of death

Defendants accused of felony crimes

Defendants accused of misdemeanor crimes

Minors prosecuted in juvenile delinquency court
and in adult court

Persons subject to involuntary psychiatric
hospitalization and conservatorship proceedings in
Mental Health and Probate Courts

Inmates in various proceedings to extend
incarceration beyond the prescribed term of
punishment including:
› “sexual violent predator” proceedings
› “insanity commitment” proceedings
› “dangerous prisoner” proceedings
› “mentally disordered offender” proceedings
› “youthful offender” proceedings

Appeals in the Appellate Division of the Alameda County
Superior Court, California Court of Appeal, and California
Supreme Court, in matters relating to pending litigation in the
Alameda County Superior Court

Post release community supervision (PRCS) violations

State Parolees in the Parole Reentry Court

Parole Revocation hearings
2014-15
APPROVED
BUDGET
Appropriations
2015-16
MOE
BUDGET
CHANGE FROM 2014-15
Amount
%
$34,510,972
$36,271,953
$1,760,981
5.10%
$1,160,664
$1,160,664
($0)
(0)%
$33,350,308
$35,111,289
$1,760,981
5.28%
127.83
127.83
0
(0)%
38.74
38.74
0
(0)%
Total FTE
166.57
166.57
0
(0)%
Total Authorized
233.00
233.00
0
(0)%
Revenues
Net County Cost
FTE – Mgmt
FTE – Non-Mgmt.
COMPONENT
Salary and Employee Benefits
NCC CHANGE
$1,027,634
ISF Adjustments
$533,347
Decreased Intra Fund Transfer
$200,000
TOTAL
$1,760,981
$3,948,572
$767,121
$32,361,360
Intra Fund Transfer -$805,100
Salary & Employee
Benefits
87%
Non-Discretionary
Services & Supplies
11%
Discretionary Services
& Supplies
2%
Net Appropriation: $36,271,953
Charges for Services
and Other
59%
$476,664
$684,000
State Aid
41%
2014-15
APPROVED
BUDGET
2014-15
NET
COUNTY
COST
2015-16
MOE
BUDGET
2015-16
REVENUE
2015-16
NET
COUNTY
COST
NET COUNTY COST
CHANGE FROM
2014-15
Amount
Public
Defender
CAAP
TOTAL
INDIGENT
DEFENSE
$34,510,972
$33,350,308
$36,271,953
$6,673,833
$6,293,833
$6,754,106
$41,184,805
$39,644,141
$1,160,664 $35,111,289
%
$1,760,981
5.28%
$75,273
1.20%
$43,026,059 $1,545,664 $41,480,395 $1,836,254
4.63%
$385,000
$6,369,106
FY 2013-14
ACTUALS
FY 2014-15
PROJECTED
FY 2015-16
PROJECTED
FY 2015-16
PROJECTED
% OF CASES
TOTAL FILES OPENED
41,355
39,638
40,500
Felony
11,842
10,410
10,200
25.19%
Misdemeanor
22,266
21,996
22,500
55.56%
Juvenile
2,092
1,868
2,000
4.94%
Civil/Commitment
1,543
1,481
1,600
3.95%
Parole/PRCS
1,400
1,322
1,400
3.46%
Clean Slate
1,863
1,887
2,000
4.94%
*Conflicts Declared
4,068
3,669
3,600
*Conflicts are also included in the caseload and types listed above
8.89%

Currently represent 67 individuals charged with homicides
In 2014:

Accepted 40 new homicide cases

Felony lawyers handle approximately 231 cases per
attorney per year

Misdemeanor lawyers handle approximately 317 cases
per attorney per year

Staff of 18 investigators completed 2,235 investigations
requests

Served 1,602 subpoenas

Expand our model of Holistic Defense

Continue to improve services to clients

Implement Vertical Representation

Improve our Juvenile representation

Represent clients at Arraignment
IN THE COURTROOM
VISIBILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY
GRANT/FUND DEVELOPMENT
IMPROVING SERVICES TO CLIENTS
IN THE LEGAL FIELD
IN THE COMMUNITY
Homeless and Caring Court:
“I just wanted to thank you again for
everything you did for me. I just
wanted to reach out to you and let
you know that you played a huge role
”
in my life, and for that I am grateful.
~ Public Defender Client
Removes barriers to integrating back into society by
resolving non-violent, minor misdemeanor cases and
traffic infractions for the homeless and formerly
homeless
Parole Reentry Court
Meets the needs of high risk parolees who are in
violation status, helping them to meet their housing,
employment, educational, and drug treatment needs
with the goal of reducing recidivism
Juvenile Girls Court:
Provides a non-adversarial, trauma-informed
courtroom, focused on addressing trauma, healing,
and empowerment through comprehensive case plans
that address each young woman’s unique challenges
Veterans Treatment Court

For veterans who suffer from service-related substance abuse and mental
health issues

Clients are assigned a mentor and a treatment plan based on his/her
specific needs, which may include:

›
drug treatment
›
mental health counseling
›
job training
›
Schooling
Most programs last 18 months, after which
probation may be terminated, a felony offense
reduced to a misdemeanor, or a guilty plea
withdrawn

Achieved a successful outcome in 64% of cases that
went to trial.

Achieved a successful outcome in 50% of felony cases
that went to trial.
On November 4, 2014, 60% of
California voters passed Prop 47
74%
of Alameda County voters

Office wide training the day after it passed

In the first week, reviewed over 180 cases for clients
that had already been sentenced

In less than 2 months, we filed 101 petitions, 75 were
granted

20 were for state prisoners; 15 were granted and
released

Housing services were provided by Social Workers
upon release

Reviewed over 500 pending cases for eligibility

Currently, there are over 5,000
probationers that may be eligible for Prop
47 relief

And over 10,000 people in the community
who may be eligible

There is a 3
year window to get this done

Reviewed 450 cases

Filed 127 petitions /
applications with an 82%
success rate

50 petitions / applications
that are pending

Conducted two community
outreach

Conducting intake on a
monthly basis at the Oakland
and Hayward Probation
offices starting next month
$15,000 supporting
Immigration
Representation
Initiative
$25,000 supporting Proposition 47
Defense Outreach & Services
$48,400 supporting
Clean Slate Program
$20,000 supporting
Pre-Arrest Services
$27,000 supporting Juvenile Client Services
Improving Services to Clients
Reduction of Conflicts
A conflict typically exists when we represent a co-defendant or witness on a
case, preventing us from being able to accept a new client on the related case.
Filed 10% (425) less conflicts than in 2013
Reduced conflict rate to 9% of total files
Reduced conflicts by almost 3,000 per year since 2010
7,000
6,406
6,000
5,000
4,765
4,631
4,720
4,000
4,094
3,669
3,000
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Immigration Representation Initiative
Provided immigration advice in approximately 900
criminal proceedings
Assisted undocumented youth in applying for Special
Immigrant Juvenile Status based on abuse, neglect or
abandonment by parents
Litigated a Special Immigrant Juvenile Status case
resulting in published decision in the CA Court of Appeal
that is now being used as precedent to assist other
undocumented youth in delinquency proceedings (In re
Israel O. (2015) 233 Cal.App.4th 279)
Assists clients to obtain or improve
employment opportunities and access
housing and other services, with a goal of
improving lives
 Cases handled since inception: 2,275
 Current open cases: 1,296
 Motions filed: 1,129


To date, served
approximately 200 clients

Evaluate client needs

Provide referrals to
substance abuse and
mental health programs,
vocational training
programs, education,
housing and employment
opportunities

Assist with client release
back into the community

Created first Legislative Committee to address
legislation that will impact our clients

Increased collaboration with non-profits in
order to provide better services to our clients.

Joint Clean Slate intake

School expulsion
representation

Youth Defender Clinic

In partnership with Social Services, launched a
pilot program that allows eligible clients to
enroll in Medi-Cal and CalFresh benefits in our
office

Fixed arraignment injustice in Pleasanton
Courthouse, reducing client time in custody
and saving the County money

Established Homicide Team, providing
specialized representation

Vertical representation for felonies at Hayward
Branch Office

Stanford Trial advocacy
program

University of California, Berkeley
Law School

Hastings Law School

Santa Clara Law School

University of San Francisco Law
School

National Legal Aid and
Defenders Association

University of California, Davis Law  California Public Defenders
School
Association
Held first ever all day training for support staff focusing on
the delivery of outstanding customer service to clients
Women Lawyers of
Alameda County
California State Bar
Judicial Nominee
Evaluation Commission
California Public
Defenders Association
East Bay Children’s Law
Office
Uncommon Law
Asian American
Criminal Trial Lawyers
Association
Donated more than 300
books to clients at Santa Rita
Jail
Served a holiday pizza
dinner to nearly 150 youth in
custody at Juvenile Hall, in
collaboration with Probation
and the Public Defender
Association.
Represented 127 veterans, advocating for needy and homeless
veterans who have criminal/traffic cases pending in our county. We
work to clear up their warrants, outstanding fines, and to get cases
dismissed in order to get them back on their feet.

Addresses the impact of racism in the
criminal justice system and the
disproportionate incarceration of
minorities

Members participate on the steering
committee for The Public Defenders for
Social Change – Bay Area Region

Debuted in March 2014

Is an empowerment project
designed to educate teens about
their constitutional rights.

Successfully educated 1,500 high
school students

Presented trainings at nine high
schools

Served cities of Berkeley, Oakland,
and San Leandro

Awarded Program of the Year
from the California Public
Defenders Association
San Leandro High
School Partnership
• In collaboration with Social
Justice Academy at San
Leandro High
• Taught more that 750 9th12th graders in 2 weeks
leading up to Peace in the
Streets Forum, hosted by
the Social Justice
Academy
“Your office is doing a
wonderful job in educating our
youth and in turn, protecting
our police officers and
community.”
-Coach Eric Clayton,
Oakland Tech