June 5 Joint support letter with Nevada County to Protect Funding for Public Defense Pilot Program

June 5, 2024

The Honorable Scott Wiener 
Chair, Senate Committee on Budget 
1021 O Street, Suite 8630 
Sacramento, CA 95814 

The Honorable Jesse Gabriel 
Chair, Assembly Committee on Budget 
1021 O Street, Suite 8230 
Sacramento, CA 95814 

RE:  Protect Funding for Public Defense Pilot Program 

Dear Chair Wiener and Chair Gabriel, 

We write in support of the Joint Legislative Budget Plan’s proposal to retain the $40 million enacted in last year’s budget for the third year of funding for the Public Defense Pilot Program that the Governor’s Budget had proposed to cut, and we are seeking your leadership in strongly advocating for this funding in the state’s final budget. 

Counties across the state have demonstrated the value and impact of this program, which is currently in its second year of a planned three-year pilot. County public defender offices across the state have used the program to fund resentencing units; whose lawyers, social workers and paralegals have reviewed cases, petitioned local courts for resentencing, connected clients to resources upon release, and represented clients at parole hearings. 

This modest, short-term investment (representing 0.016% of the total state budget) has already yielded significant long-term savings for the state. Data available from 13 of the Public Defense Pilot Program grant recipient counties (out of 34 total recipient counties) have yielded the following results:

• 529 people obtained release or reduced sentences, saving 6,267 years of sentencing time.
• $94 to $781 million in cost savings from only two of the four areas covered by the pilot program.
• 85% of those resentenced under the program were people of color. 

Indigent defense teams have also been able to hire social workers and expand their holistic defense teams with the funds. This has enabled many to create a continuum of care for defendants with psychiatric and substance use disorders, facilitated safe and successful reentry plans, and enabled individuals to reintegrate into and meaningfully contribute to the community after incarceration. Without a third year of state funding to continue this program, these gains would be stunted and our communities would be deprived of additional returns on these holistic investments. Especially low-income families, and communities of color. 

We appreciate the Legislature’s commitment to providing resources for the provision of indigent defense services at the local level, and we look forward to your continued support. 

Sincerely,  

Hardy Bullock 
Chair, Board of Supervisors 
County of Nevada 

Dennis Rodoni 
President, Board of Supervisors 
County of Marin