County Public Defender to receive $186,000 grant for Discovery aid
The Chenango County Public Defender's Office will receive a sizable state grant to offset costs incurred as a result of the NY Discovery Reform Program. (File photo)
NORWICH – The Chenango County Public Defender’s Office will see a $186,000 boost in New York State aid to help with expenses incurred as the result of the state’s Discovery Reform Program.
New York’s Discovery Reform Law, which took effect in 2020, requires prosecutors to turn over all materials that relate to the subject matter of a case no later than 15 days after an individual has been arraigned for an alleged crime.
The state legislature’s passage of the law put New York State on par with 46 other states operating under a similar system, but also put severe financial strain on local prosecution and defense attorneys’ offices.
In response, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services has doled out funding to counties to support public defense services and expenses related to the Discovery Reform Law. Funds can be used for evidence transmission technology, administrative support, computers, hardware and operating software, data connectivity, training materials, staff training, overtime expenses, or additional personnel or increased compensation to reflect additional responsibilities related to Discovery.
“We’re using experts now more than ever because we’re having some clients with serious mental health issues,” Chenango County Public Defender Aaron Dean told members of the county’s Safety and Rules Committee at a meeting held last month. And that, he added, is costly to the county.
Dean sought the committee’s approval to accept two grants from the NYS Division of Criminal Justice – $92,917 for an Aid to Defense for Discovery Reform Program Grant and an Aid to Defense Supplemental Program Grant in the amount of $92,917. Both grants, he said, were unexpected.
Dean said the Public Defender’s Office intends to use $31,500 of the state grants to cover $20,235 in office expenses for case management program migration to the cloud; $10,000 for expert testimony and psychological evaluations performed on a couple of defendants this year; and $1,300 to cover expenses of two interns hired for additional time available.
A resolution accepting the grant money passed the Chenango County Board of Supervisors in a meeting held Aug. 12 at the County Office Building.
New York’s Discovery Reform Law, which took effect in 2020, requires prosecutors to turn over all materials that relate to the subject matter of a case no later than 15 days after an individual has been arraigned for an alleged crime.
The state legislature’s passage of the law put New York State on par with 46 other states operating under a similar system, but also put severe financial strain on local prosecution and defense attorneys’ offices.
In response, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services has doled out funding to counties to support public defense services and expenses related to the Discovery Reform Law. Funds can be used for evidence transmission technology, administrative support, computers, hardware and operating software, data connectivity, training materials, staff training, overtime expenses, or additional personnel or increased compensation to reflect additional responsibilities related to Discovery.
“We’re using experts now more than ever because we’re having some clients with serious mental health issues,” Chenango County Public Defender Aaron Dean told members of the county’s Safety and Rules Committee at a meeting held last month. And that, he added, is costly to the county.
Dean sought the committee’s approval to accept two grants from the NYS Division of Criminal Justice – $92,917 for an Aid to Defense for Discovery Reform Program Grant and an Aid to Defense Supplemental Program Grant in the amount of $92,917. Both grants, he said, were unexpected.
Dean said the Public Defender’s Office intends to use $31,500 of the state grants to cover $20,235 in office expenses for case management program migration to the cloud; $10,000 for expert testimony and psychological evaluations performed on a couple of defendants this year; and $1,300 to cover expenses of two interns hired for additional time available.
A resolution accepting the grant money passed the Chenango County Board of Supervisors in a meeting held Aug. 12 at the County Office Building.
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