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Ray Larson, Commonwealth's Attorney |
Ray Larson has been the Fayette County Commonwealth’s Attorney since 1985. Lexington-Fayette County is an Urban County Government and has a population of 250,000. The Office of the Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney has 30 employees, including 18 prosecutors. Over 1,500 felony crimes are prosecuted annually. Mr. Larson was born in Yakima, Washington. His father was a career air force officer and his family has been stationed at military bases throughout the world. Mr. Larson attended the University of Kentucky for both his undergraduate degree and law degree. He is married to Betty H. Larson, a fourth grade teacher for 34 years, and they have a 23 year old son. Mr. Larson has 32 years of experience in the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases. In 1972, he was appointed as City Prosecutor for Paducah, Kentucky. In 1974, he became an Assistant Deputy Attorney General, where he investigated and prosecuted many high profile cases throughout Kentucky. In 1985, Mr. Larson became Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney. Since 1988 he has also served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Kentucky College of Law. |
| Education: | |
| 1966 | University of Kentucky, B.A. |
| 1970 | University of Kentucky, J.D. |
| Civic Activities: | |
| 1999
(since 1990) |
Ronald
McDonald House President of the Board (1997) and former Board Member |
| 1999
(since 1992) |
American
Cancer Society President of the Board (1994) and former Board Member |
| 1999 (since 1992) |
Children’s
Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass, Inc. Founding President and present Board Member of an organization which is dedicated to improving the treatment of sexually abused children by the criminal justice system. |
| 1999 | Court’s
In Session, Inc. Founding President and Director of a fourth grade civics program taught by a teacher-lawyer team which culminates in a trial in a real courtroom. This participatory curriculum is designed to teach children about good citizenship, our laws, the trial process, the courts, and its participants. |
| Professional Honors and Awards: | |
| National Honors and Awards: | |
| 2003 | United
States Department of Justice - Outstanding Local Prosecutor’s Office Presented by the United States Attorney General in Kansas City, MO in recognition of distinguished service and commitment to the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program. |
| 1992 |  United States Presidential Award - Outstanding Victim Service Award Presented by President George Bush in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, for outstanding service on behalf of victims of crime. |
| 1992 | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Public Service Award Presented in Orlando, Florida for outstanding effort in the promotion of safety in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. |
| 1991 | National Organization for Victim Assistance - Allied Professional Award Presented in Anaheim, California in recognition of the outstanding support of victims' rights in the United States. |
| 1991 | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Public Service Award Presented in Frankfort, Kentucky in recognition of leadership in securing passage of Lexington’s Safety Belt Ordinance. |
| 1988 | National Organization for Victim Assistance - Tadini Bacigalupi Award Presented in Tucson, Arizona in recognition as one of the three outstanding victims' assistance organizations in America. |
| 1988 | United States Department of Justice - Certificate of Appreciation Presented in Lexington, Kentucky by the United States Department of Justice in recognition of outstanding dedication, service and advocacy on behalf of crime victims. |
| 1987 | National Commission Against Drunk Driving - Distinguished Service Award Presented in Washington, DC in recognition of commitment to making drunk and impaired driving socially unacceptable. |
| 1985 | United States Department of Agriculture - Certificate of Appreciation Presented in Lexington, Kentucky in recognition of outstanding performance in the prosecution of food stamp fraud and contributions to maintaining the integrity of the food stamp program. |
| Statewide Honors and Awards: | |
| 2004 | Kentucky
- Outstanding Commonwealth’s
Attorney Presented in recognition of outstanding service to the citizens of the commonwealth and the unified prosecutorial system. |
| 2000 | Kentuckian’s
Voice for Crime Victims - Guardian Angel Award Presented in recognition for outstanding service and devotion to innocent victims of crime. |
| 1994 | Kentucky
Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Association - Outstanding Kentucky Prosecutor
Award-1994 Presented to the prosecutor who best exemplifies the attributes of the ideal prosecutor in fulfilling the duties of his office and in recognition of his diligence and leadership as a public servant and private citizen. |
| 1987 | Kentucky ‘Prosecutor of the
Year’ Award - Named by Kentucky Attorney General David Armstrong |
| 1987 | Kentucky Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Association - Outstanding Kentucky
Prosecutor-1987 Presented to the prosecutor who best exemplifies the attributes of the ideal prosecutor in fulfilling the duties of his office and in recognition of his diligence and leadership as a public servant and private citizen. |
| 2001 1997 1996 1993 1992 1988 1983 |
Kentucky Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Association - President’s Award Presented in recognition of outstanding contributions to the prosecutors of Kentucky. |
| 1997 | Kentucky Victims' Coalition - Statewide Media Award Presented in Frankfort, Kentucky in recognition of exemplary service and dedication to the fair treatment of victims of crime through The Lexington Crime Check newsletter. |
| 1996 | Kentucky State Police - Safe Communities Award Presented in recognition of leadership in the promotion of Project D.A.R.E.; safety belt legislation, and vehicular homicide prosecution. |
| 1998 | Kentucky State Police - Buckle Up America - Leadership Award Presented in recognition of exemplary leadership in the promotion of safety on our highways. |
| 1989 | Kentucky D.A.R.E. Officers Association - Leadership Award Presented in recognition of leadership in the prevention of drug use and abuse by the children of Kentucky by being the person responsible for bringing the D.A.R.E. program to Kentucky. |
| 1988 | Citizens & Victims for Justice Reform - Inaugural Victim’s Rights Award Presented in Louisville, Kentucky to the person in Kentucky who has contributed the most on behalf of the victims of crime and their families. |
| Local Honors and Awards: | |
| 2002 | Georgetown
Street Area Neighborhood Association - Presented for commitment, diligence, and energy dedicated to the neighborhood. |
| 1992 | The Lane Report - Bluegrass Health Heroes Award Presented in recognition of community leadership by making a major contribution to improving the quality of life in Lexington by being the driving force behind the enactment of Lexington’s safety belt ordinance. |
| 1990 | The Lexington Forum - Spirit Award Presented in recognition of contributions enhancing the quality of life in Lexington. |
| Professional Appointments: | |
| National Appointments: | |
| 2006 (since 1996) |
National District Attorney’s Association
(NDAA) Vice-President, and Board Member. Responsible for representing Kentucky’s 176 elected prosecutors on the NDAA national board of directors. |
| 1992 | National Victim Center (NVC) Member of an Advisory Committee responsible for development of national training program for victim assistance programs. |
| 1992 | National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) Member of an Advisory Committee responsible for the development of national training for victims' assistance programs. |
| 1990 | National Association of Pretrial Services and Agencies Consultant. Responsible for evaluating proposed national policies and procedures for use by pretrial service agencies throughout the country. |
| 1989 |  Surgeon General’s Workshop on
Drunk DrivingC. Everett Koop, Surgeon General Member. A nationwide group responsible for the development and implementation of national strategies for the identification, investigation, prosecution, punishment, prevention and treatment of drunk drivers. |
| Statewide Appointments: | |
| 2004 (since 1996) |
Prosecutor’s Advisory Council Member. Responsible for the administration and management of Kentucky’s Prosecutorial System. |
| 1999 (since 1992) |
Kentucky Medical Association, Domestic Violence Committee Member. Responsible for developing a protocol for the medical profession to follow in dealing with instances of domestic violence. |
| 1999 (since 1990) |
Kentucky Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Association, Continuing
Education Committee Member. Responsible for planning continuing legal education programs for Kentucky’s prosecutors. |
| 1999 (since 1989) |
Kentucky Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Association, Legislative
Committee Member. Responsible for the development of legislative priorities for Kentucky’s prosecutors. |
| 1997 | Governor’s Criminal Justice Response Team Member. Responsible for recommending reforms of Kentucky’s Criminal Code. |
| 1992 | Attorney General’s Task Force on Child Sexual Abuse Member. Responsible for reviewing Kentucky’s laws on child sexual abuse and making recommendations for improvement in the investigation, prosecution, punishment, prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse offenders in Kentucky. |
| 1992 (since 1990) |
Kentucky Victims' Coalition Founding President, and Board Member of this statewide organization, the goal of which is the fair and equal treatment of victims by the criminal justice system. |
| 1991 | Legislative Research Commission Task Force on Sentencing Member. Responsible for recommending changes to Kentucky’s laws concerning sentencing defendants convicted of crimes. |
| 1989 | Attorney General’s Task Force on Drunk Driving Member. Responsible for recommending changes in Kentucky’s drunk driving laws. |
| 1988 | Kentucky Supreme Court: Committee on Legal Ethics and the Criminal Justice
System Member. Responsible for the development of ethical standards for participants in the criminal justice system. |
| 1988 | Governor’s Task Force on Corrections Member. Responsible for reviewing Kentucky’s laws on corrections and making recommendations for changes in the law. |
| 1988 | Legislative Research Commission - Commission on Kentucky’s Government Member of the Committee on Justice, Corrections and Judiciary. Responsible for reviewing Kentucky’s justice, corrections and judicial systems, and making recommendations to the Kentucky General Assembly. |
| 1987 | Legislative Research Commission - Commission on Election Reform Member. Responsible for reviewing Kentucky’s election laws and making recommendations to the Kentucky General Assembly. |
| Local Appointments: | |
| 1999 (since 1988) |
Lexington Crime Victims' Rights Week Planning Committee Chair. Responsible for planning local activities for Lexington’s annual Crime Victims' Rights Week commemoration. |
| 1992 (since 1988) |
Lexington Crime Prevention & Safety Planning Commission Chair. A commission charged with the responsibility of developing and recommending crime prevention and safety initiatives for Lexington. The Commission recommended the enactment of a local safety belt ordinance. |
| 1991 | Lexington-Fayette County Criminal Justice Commission Member. A group comprising members of Lexington’s criminal justice system who meet regularly to share information. |
| 1990
|
Mayor’s Task Force on Law Enforcement and the Mentally Ill Chair. A group, appointed by the Mayor of Lexington, to review and develop a strategy for dealing with mentally ill persons by law enforcement. |
| Notable Appearances: | |
| Featured on HBO’s America Undercover documentary "Drunk and Deadly" for the prosecution of a vehicular murder which resulted in a sentence of 70 years. | |
| Appeared on the NBC Today Show as an advocate for the prosecution of drunk drivers who kill. | |
