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Fast Track Drug Prosecution Project |
Illegal drugs are addictive and expensive. Many illicit drug users have no legitimate means of support and turn to crime to fuel their addictions. Lower level crimes such as burglary and theft serve as a foundation that supports drug trafficking in our community. In addition to taking drug dealers and users off the streets of Lexington, priority prosecution of drug offenses will also reduce the related crimes these offenders commit. The Fast Track Drug Prosecution Project is part of the prosecution component of the Lexington Street Sales Enforcement Grant that has been established for this exact purpose. The goal of the Fast Track project is simply to prosecute drug offenses as expeditiously, consistently, and effectively as possible.
This table reflects statistics from the current year in comparison to past years. The arrest numbers are based on the computer report provided by the Central Records Section of the Lexington Police Department. The remaining statistics are those maintained in the Fast Track records of the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.
Development of computerized case management system The Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney in Fayette County has developed a computer network to facilitate day-to-day operations. The network includes the IMPACT system, which stores information on each case handled by the office. IMPACT includes information about the offense type and date, defendant's name, and case disposition. This allows easy access to a variety of statistical information for a number of purposes. In the past, records on Fast Track prosecutions were kept in handwritten notebooks. The statistics for the 1998 year-to-date drug cases are based on a report generated by the IMPACT system. Daily case review and evaluation meeting Every morning incoming cases are reviewed by the staff of the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney. Members of the team include attorneys who inspect the files for prior felony convictions and controlled substance offenses, crime victims' advocates, a restitution specialist, the prosecutor who will handle the case, and a police sergeant and deputy sheriff assigned to assist in the R.O.P.E./Fast Track project. Review of each case by the various specialists present at the meeting allows important information, such as prior convictions, laboratory results, victim identification, and restitution or asset forfeiture information to be requested prior to the case being presented to the Grand Jury. The end result is that the necessary information is assembled in order to allow the case to be prosecuted as quickly as possible. Expedited prosecution of drug cases Cases are individually inspected and those that include a violation of the drug statutes in Kentucky as a primary charge (KRS Chapter 218A, the Controlled Substances Act of 1972) are flagged for expedited prosecution. The case file receives a conspicuous sticker that alerts the assigned prosecutor that the case is to be presented to the Grand Jury within 28 days, rather than the usual 60 day limit, and a form that contains a summary of the facts, including the arresting officer, lab results, assets confiscated, and a preliminary recommendation. Controlled substance offenses are reviewed by the Fast Track prosecutor, who uses a set of guidelines to make a preliminary recommendation for each case. A minority of cases that are unlikely to be prosecuted successfully are screened out and eliminated from the system as soon as possible. For example, a drug charge where the laboratory report turns out to be negative will be dismissed at the Grand Jury instead of requiring unnecessary time and effort in the courts. The remaining cases receive a recommendation designed to provide guidance in the charging decision for consistent disposition of the controlled substance offenses. Circumstances unique to drug cases, such as amount and type of contraband, money or weapons seized, and use of informants are considered in order to resolve the cases in a consistent manner.
Under the Street Sales Enforcement Grant, the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney's Office and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Division of Police have adopted a zero tolerance policy concerning the prosecution of drug offenders. Based upon comments from neighborhood associations and citizens from Fayette County, there is overwhelming community support for this position. Recent studies have confirmed the fact that emphasis on the apprehension and prosecution of drug traffickers has a dramatic effect on other crimes. In Fayette County, due to this increased emphasis on narcotics traffickers, the rate of serious and/or violent crime has dropped dramatically. This is consistent with nationwide trends that have adopted the same philosophy. The Fast Track Drug Prosecution Project has sustained consistent success in the prosecution of controlled substance cases in the Fayette Circuit Court.
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