Welcome to the February 201 Q&A.
The Q&A addresses questions and suggestions received through the online suggestion box (top menu bar on the intranet). We respond to questions with agency-wide relevance, and we cannot answer questions that may affect client or staff/personnel confidentiality. If you have individual- or office-specific questions, please communicate that within your office or division.
Some questions/suggestions are summarized or simplified in the interest of clarity, brevity or to address tone.
Suggestions/Questions list
- Blocked websites
- Former CPCS criminal staff on CPCSPD listserv
- Equitable resources strategic initiative
- Key access cards to offices
Suggestion/Question: Blocked websites
Why are certain websites inaccessible on our office computers? I have a case involving a car stop by police, where my client has a sticker on the back of his car that reads “OGs” and shows a marijuana leaf. I don’t know exactly what this means or represents. So I Googled it. And now I’m blocked from accessing several of the websites that were returned in the google search. The apparent reason: “Block reason: Forbidden Category ‘Drugs/Illegal Drugs.'” Well, you know what? In the public defender division we are appointed to represent people in cases involving drugs and illegal drugs. And sometimes it’s important, as appointed counsel, to educate ourselves regarding the meaning and significance of certain things that might bear on, for example, whether the police acted lawfully during a car stop, or were perhaps biased in some way based on a sticker or a decal. This is not right.
Response:
This question has actually been addressed in a previous Q&A (http://intranet.publiccounsel.net/blog/2015/10/16/qa-october-2015/), in a full, detailed blog post on the intranet (http://intranet.publiccounsel.net/blog/2015/03/04/blocked-web-site-and-temporary-access/), and also page five of the IT 101 and New Hire Guide (http://intranet.publiccounsel.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/08/IT-101-and-New-Hire-Guide-2017-July-27.pdf) found on the intranet.
The long and short of the answer is:
- CPCS blocks website for a number of reasons including content promoting a hostile work environment (objectionable), racist content, online gambling and gaming, sites rife with malware, bandwidth, etc.
- We use a filtering company (3rd party) that has general categories. We recognize that some blocking may impair the work of CPCS. In those cases, a person can request temporary access to a site (see blog post for how).
I, myself, tried searching in Google using, “what does og stand for in weed.” Below, you can see a screen capture of the top six results. All of which I can access. The first link seems to be the most thorough and germane.
Based on these results, there is no definitive answer. “OG” in this context may mean “Original Gangster” or “Ocean Grown.” Ultimately, “OG” simply is part of the name in a number of varieties of pot.
“OG” is also used broadly in disparate contexts, with radically different meaning. For example for some seminal rappers, original Android Droid phones, “original gravity” for beer, etc.
Division: Daniel Saroff, IT
Suggestion/Question: Former CPCS criminal staff on CPCSPD listserv
I have noticed recently that a number of attorneys who no longer work for the PDD still are accessing and posting to the PDD listserv. I am concerned that this presents conflict-of-interest problems, as well as problems presented with non-appointed attorneys using CPCS resources. It is not clear to me who moderates listserv membership at this point, but I respectfully suggest that attorneys who have left CPCS should also be removed from the listerv.
Response:
Good point! We agree that attorneys leaving the PDD should be removed from the PDD listserv. If they continue handling CPCS cases, they can participate on the District-Superior Court private counsel listserv or the murder listserv depending on the type of cases they handle. We will reexamine and revise our procedures for updating the membership lists for the listserv groups.
While Stephanie Page continues to moderate the listservs, she no longer has primary responsibility for maintaining the membership lists. In the meantime, if you are aware of someone who should be removed from the PDD list because they no longer work in the PDD, please drop an email to Kristen Munichiello in the Criminal Defense Training Unit.
Division: Private Counsel Division, Nancy Bennett
Suggestion/Question: Equitable resources strategic initiative
We never had a final report back from Anthony regarding the strategic planning committee that looked at the equitable resources and the response of senior management to the proposals that were made. Is there a plan moving forward?
Response:
There is a plan moving forward. Many of the proposals made by the Equitable Resources Team require changes in the Assigned Counsel Manual and/or the CPCS billing system, and in some instances, Committee approval.
Finance, IT and Audit & Oversight staff have been working on various implementation proposals with staff who oversee private assigned counsel. Significant progress has been made, but we do not want to make any announcements until we have a realistic implementation timeline.
Division: Administration, Debra Krupp
Suggestion/Question: Key access cards to offices
Just wondering why the switch to key access cards for our offices? Is every office making the switch or just certain offices? What is the justification for spending money on this when we have such a budget shortage and our security is already taken care of?
Response:
Finance/Facilities feels that existing cipher locks (keycode locks) pose a security risk to staff. Codes are not managed well and access can be shared with any individual that knows the door code. In addition, these locks are incredibly expensive to repair and/or replace; often costing in excess of $1K to replace per unit. Further, the existing locks are similar (but different) by location and require widely different knowledge to maintain.
The move to key cards will be gradual but will impact all offices. All new offices buildouts will have key cards and upon lease renewal, existing offices will receive key cards. In those locations that move and have existing key card systems, the card system will be moved to the new space.
A key difference between cipher locks and kay cards is that when an employee joins or leaves the organization her/his access can be managed centrally and immediately without requiring changes to door codes or locks. One card can provide access to one or multiple offices depending upon policy or need. Additionally, once the key card system is installed (generally using money in one fiscal year) there is little cost associated with maintaining the system in future years. In effect, we are reducing long term operating costs while providing a more secure office environment for staff. As with any expense, both short and long term costs are considered. Change is often difficult but we have found that staff moving from cipher locks to key cards appreciate the flexibility and security that key card access provide.
Division: Finance, Kevin Lucchetti