Committee approves forwarding $150,000 Crank Start Foundation grant to expand Public Defender pretrial unit

The Budget & Finance Committee voted to forward to the full Board a retroactive authorization for the Public Defender's Office to accept and expend a $150,000 grant from the Crank Start Foundation to expand capacity in the Pretrial Release Unit (PRU).

Lisonbee McCost, chief of staff for the Public Defender, and PRU managing attorney Artricia Moore Jenkins described the unit's work: PRU meets with low-income people arrested before arraignment to provide early legal contact, make referrals for employment and services, and begin investigation and case coordination to increase options for pretrial release. Moore Jenkins said the unit operates seven days a week and meets some 50–70 people per week.

The grant would convert a 0.5 FTE attorney to roughly 1.1 FTE for the PRU during the grant period (Jan. 1–Sept. 30, 2024) so the unit can meet with more people while they are in custody and support linkage to services. Vice Chair Mandelmann asked to be added as a co-sponsor and committee members expressed appreciation for the public-private partnership.

No members of the public spoke on the item. The committee voted to forward the request to the full Board with a positive recommendation (Mandelmann, Melgar and Chan voting aye).