Neighborhood Prosecutor Project

The Neighborhood Prosecutor Project recognizes that in addition to the individual victims of crime, someone else suffers when criminals break the law -- the community.  This project, which is being implemented first in the Winburn neighborhood, seeks to empower neighborhood residents to deal effectively with public safety issues in their community.  The project's primary goal is to develop a regular and working partnership between residents, prosecutors, police, and other government services and agencies.  This project will not only provide a direct link to the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office for residents, but it will also give citizens the tools to solve problems in their neighborhood.  Eventually, this project will extend to the entire city:  prosecutors will be assigned cases by neighborhood, and they will know the concerns of their assigned area.

The Commonwealth's Attorney's Neighborhood Prosecution Team is currently attending all Winburn Neighborhood Association meetings and participating in the Winburn Task Force, which meets bi-monthly at the Lexington Police Department.  The winburn Task Force is chaired by Major Bill Thompson of the Lexington Police Department, and its membership includes representative from the following agencies:

Department of Youth Services Social Work Division
Division of Code Enforcement
Winburn Neighborhood Association
Community Development
Community Action Council
Department of Social Services
Fayette County Attorney's Office
Division of Solid Waste
Department of Law
Department of Public Safety
Department of General Services
Division of Parks and Recreation
Department of Public Information
Council Member Robert Jefferson

The Neighborhood Prosecution Team is working closely with the Winburn Neighborhood Association and West Sector Captain Mike Bosse of the Lexington Police to close the communication gap between government services and the residents of Winburn.

In addition, prosecutors Kimberly Henderson and Evan Reynolds recently attended a community prosecution conference in California to learn how similar projects are operating across the country.  Our goal is ultimately to empower the residents of Winburn to take back their community form those who disrupt public safety or commit crimes in the Winburn neighborhood.

New Police Department West Sector Captain.  Capt. Steve Stanley, the newly appointed commander of the West Sector, attended the meeting.  His purpose was to introduce himself to the association and the neighborhood.  Capt. Stanley informed the neighborhood that he was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky.  He also stated that prior to becoming the West Sector Captain he worked in predominantly Department of Housing Urban Development areas.  Capt. Stanley advised the neighborhood that he will be glad to assist in the Winburn Neighborhood Day with extra patrol if needed.  He also gave his office number for anyone who needed to contact him.

Community Action Council Site in Winburn.  The newly announced site for the Community Action Council will be in the remodeled Goodwin Building.  Ms. Rochelle Stevens and other members of the Community Action Council are planning a child development center as well as an infants' day care center.  The Community Action Council would like for the new site to reflect the needs of the Winburn neighborhood.  Therefore, any suggestions on the types of needed programs was encouraged.

This month's topics focused mainly on juvenile crime within the neighborhood.  Lt. Turley of the Lexington Police Department answered questions from members of the Winburn Neighborhood regarding juveniles who have stolen vehicles and driven those vehicles throughout the neighborhood recklessly, abandoning the vehicles in Winburn.

Lt. Turley advised the members that arrests had been made, however, most of the juveniles that had been arrested are more than likely released the very next day due to not having a criminal record.  Nonetheless, Lieutenant Turley advised those in attendance that police bicycle patrols are operating in the neighborhood in addition to two patrol units.  He assured the neighborhood association that the Lexington Police Department will continue to make the appropriate arrests in order to keep the neighborhood safe.

Commonwealth's Attorney's Office Neighborhood Prosecution Team Report:   Representatives of the Office of the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney gave a monthly report on cases that are being handled by the office. Neighborhood Advocate KoKo Laine advised the members that the office has received at least four Youthful Offenders (juveniles that have been held to the Grand Jury by Juvenile Court to be heard on charges as adults) that have been arrested for Robbery and Theft of Auto charges.  Mrs. Laine expressed that it is our policy to treat each and every defendant the same, whether juvenile or adult. Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Evan Reynolds, attended last months Winburn Task Force Team and gave the minutes to the Winburn Neighborhood (see Winburn Task Force Minutes)