Expanded Public Defense Services (Holistic Defense) Grant FAQs

Q: If we as the county apply for the grant funds to be used by our contracted public defense firm, we do not need board approval authorizing the application prior to submitting the application. Is that correct?

A: That is correct.

Q: Currently, our office uses outside, contracted social workers to create mitigation, treatment and diversion plans in some cases. If we apply for grant funds to expand this type of mitigation work and bring it in-house by hiring an LCSW on staff, would this violate the rule against supplanting?

A: Supplanting, for these purposes, is the purposeful reduction in the amount of local funds being appropriated to an existing program or activity because grant funds have been awarded for the same purposes. Where grant funding is being used to support new program activities or to augment existing funds that expand current program activities, there is no supplanting.  If grant funding would expand the agency’s currently contracted services by making the services more robust or easier to access or available to more people, etc, AND the money that is currently being used for contracts is not removed from the agency’s budget, then that would not be considered supplanting.

Q: If the submission of our grant application is approved by the Board of Supervisors on 10/28/2025, but the formal documentation is not available until later that week, will our application be considered on time?

A: If the application includes an informal acknowledgment of approval (e.g., an email that it was approved, or a letter asserting that an individual attended the meeting and that it was approved) than any formal letter or authorization can be provided no later than November 3, 2025, and be considered timely. If this will still be a barrier, please let us know at ospd.grant@ospd.ca.gov .

Q:  Do public defender offices that are county agencies/departments need to submit a county authorization letter to apply?

A:  Yes, county-run public defender offices must include a letter of authorization from their county board of supervisors or county’s chief executive/administrative officer with their application.  

Q:  If our office needs more attorneys, an investigator, as well as social workers in order to begin providing holistic defense, are those allowable expenses under the grant?

A:  Resources necessary to provide holistic defense services are allowable under the grant.  If additional staff are necessary to serve client needs beyond the immediate criminal case, those staffing costs are allowable under the grant.