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Office of the Attorney General
Prosecutors in Kentucky, Tennessee to Attend Inter-state Vehicular Homicide Conference, Training
Attorney General Jack Conway today announced that his office will participate in an inter-state training event that focuses on the effective prosecution of vehicular homicide cases, many of which involve drunk drivers. Commonwealth's Attorneys from across Kentucky will join prosecutors from the Tennessee District Attorney's office at the Vehicular Homicide for Prosecutors Conference Tuesday, June 14- Thursday, June 16 at the Park Vista Hotel in Gatlinburg, Tn.
The Attorney General's Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, Robert Stokes, will present the training in coordination with his counterparts in Tennessee. The training is open to the media and is designed to create a team building approach between crash reconstruction officers and state prosecutors.
"The partnership between crash reconstruction experts in our law enforcement agencies and prosecutors is crucial in ensuring that these types of cases are investigated properly and prosecuted to the fullest extent," General Conway said. "This training will allow for a better understanding of each other's role and will help us better protect the citizens of the Commonwealth."
Kentucky's traffic related fatalities dropped for a 5th consecutive year in 2010 with 747 traffic fatalities reported on roadways in the Commonwealth. That's down six percent from 2009 and 10 percent from 2008. Sadly, one in five highway fatalities is the result of an alcohol related crash. Advance training in this area by prosecutors and crash reconstructionists will improve the ability of prosecutors to both recognize these events as well as to successfully prosecute them when warranted.
The Vehicular Homicide Conference is funded in part through the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety with grant funds provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety is assisting with this event and other regional trainings in traffic safety.
"The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety is proud of its ongoing partnership with the Office of the Attorney General to provide funding in support of the Commonwealth's Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor. Robert Stokes has done an exceptional job in conducting training workshops and coordinating training opportunities for both law enforcement and prosecutors throughout the state," said Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock, the Governor's Representative for Highway Safety. "It is not only our responsibility, it is a priority of this administration to provide all highway safety professionals with the tools and resources they need to save and protect lives on our highways."
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