The Office of the State Public Defender is accepting applications for Racial Justice For All Implementation Funding.
Donor Name: Office of the State Public Defender
State: California
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/30/2023
Size of the Grant: $375,000
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
The Office of the State Public Defender’s Indigent Defense Improvement Division provides assistance and training to county public defender offices, appointed private counsel and counsel appointed to represent youth and adults, and engages in related efforts for the purpose of improving indigent defense. Our trainings are intended for all members of the defense team.
In 2021, a new California law called the “Racial Justice Act” (RJA) went into effect. The law is codified at Penal Code 745(a) and states, “The state shall not seek or obtain a criminal conviction or seek, obtain, or impose a sentence on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin.” Notably, the RJA does not apply to cases in which sentencing occurred prior to January 1, 2021.
Funding Information
Proposal amounts are capped at a maximum of $375,000. Indirect costs shall not exceed 10% of the overall budget proposal request.
Grant Period
Grantee must be prepared to commence work by January 1, 2024 and utilize all funds in accordance with the grant agreement within the 24 month grant period.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants are restricted to:
- Nonprofits: Nonprofits must be located in the State of California and have been determined by the IRS to have 501(c)(3) status. In addition, any entity applying as a nonprofit must have provided legal services to incarcerated individuals in California for at least three years.
- Public Defender Offices and Indigent Defense Systems: Applications must be submitted either by the Board of Supervisors or the Chief County Administrative Officer, unless the Board of Supervisors or County Administrative Officer delegates the Public Defender’s Office as the applicant entity.
- Law school clinics/centers: Law schools must be in California and have the capacity to represent incarcerated individuals.
For more information, visit OSPD.