Office of the Attorney General
Attorney General Conway Announces DUI Training for Prosecutors and Law Enforcement

Attorney General Jack Conway today announced that Robert Stokes, the Commonwealth's Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, is presenting a regional training workshop to police officers and other prosecutors on effective DUI prosecution. The goal of the training is to create a team building approach in the detection, apprehension and prosecution of impaired drivers.

"It is crucial that we give prosecutors and police officers the tools they need to effectively enforce our DUI laws and protect the citizens of our Commonwealth," Conway said. "A team approach is imperative, and I am pleased that we can coordinate this effort that will result in tough consequences for DUI offenders."

Entitled "Protecting Lives, Saving Futures," the training is funded through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Office of Highway Safety with grant funds provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and will take place July 30 - August 1 in Lexington at the Hilton Suites, Lexington Green. The workshops will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday. Assistance for this training has been provided by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the Kentucky State Police, and Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement. This regional training has been held previously in Bowling Green, Prestonsburg and Covington.

"The Transportation Cabinet Kentucky Office of Highway Safety is pleased to provide funding in support of traffic safety initiatives and training opportunities provided to law enforcement and prosecutors throughout the state," said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather, who also is Governor Steve Beshear's designated 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. This training will specifically focus on detection, apprehension and prosecution of impaired drivers."

Representatives of the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving also plan to attend the training. "MADD commends the Attorney General's office for implementing a Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor program and for making this joint law enforcement/prosecutor training possible," said Angela M. Criswell, State Executive Director for MADD Kentucky. "You can have tough laws and tough enforcement, but without tough outcomes in the court system the public just will not get the message: Drunk driving is a serious crime." Ms. Criswell further commented, "With trainings such as this, law enforcement and prosecutors can learn together how to ensure the criminal justice system addresses DUI charges rigorously, consistently, and effectively".

The training is presented under the direction of the American Prosecutors Research Institute's (APRI) National Traffic Law Center and is open to the media.