R.O.P.E.

Research has confirmed what criminologists and law enforcement professionals have long suspected:

A small percentage of the criminals are responsible for a large percentage of the crime.

According to the criminologists, 6% of the criminals in America commit 70% of the crimes. It stands to reason that if we can identify this 6% and incarcerate them for as long as possible, the crime rate will decrease and out city will be a safer place to live.

In October, 1995 the Justice Cabinet funded as part of the Fayette County Streets Sales Enforcement Grant a R.O.P.E. proposal by which the Lexington-Fayette Division of Police and the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney would endeavor to identify this small percentage of criminals who are responsible for such a large percentage of the crime in our community and prosecute them to the full extent of the law.

The criminal histories of these repeat offenders reveal that, as a group, they have 7,480 prior criminal conviction (misdemeanors and felonies) for an average of 10.3 convictions each.

Conviction rates for repeat offenders:

1996	97%
1997	98%
1998	99%
1999	98%

Our increased emphasis on identifying, prosecuting and incarcerating these career criminals who choose to commit crime after crime appears to be helping make our community a safer place to live.

Repeat Offender Case Summary
Year	Repeat Offenders Identified	Avg. No. of Prior Criminal Convictions	Average Sentence	Conviction Rate
1996	134	10.3	8.1 years	97%
1997	160	9.9	7.8 years	98%
1998	315	10.6	8.2 years	99%
1999	213	10.1	7.6 years	98%

There has been a 75% increase in the number of repeat offenders charged and prosecuted since 1996. These statistics raise a number of concerns.

Why are so many defendants who have so many criminal convictions allowed to remain on our streets?

How many of these defendants have committed these new crimes while they are on probation or parole from a previous crime?