Local News
Program will speed tracking of warrants
Local law enforcement agencies will soon have a faster, more efficient way to track suspects with outstanding warrants.
Attorney General Jack Conway’s office has received a $3.94 million federal stimulus grant to expand the eWarrants program to rural Kentucky counties during the next two years after a trial period in six counties produced successful results.
“It is going to benefit Barren County soon,” Conway said. “It’s clear we need to move beyond the golden triangle of central Kentucky with this,” he said.
According Conway, the six counties in the trial period reported a 62 percent warrant serving rate with the eWarrants system compared to a 10 percent rate under the former system. Currently, Jefferson, Woodford, Fayette, Scott, Campbell and Bourbon counties participate in the trial program.
The electronic warrant management system allows law enforcement agencies to share information about suspects over a secure online network, which is quicker then the current process of faxing, mailing or hand delivering warrant documents and information between jurisdictions, Conway said. Funding for the grant comes from the American Resource and Recovery Act with approval by the Department of Justice.
“My experience with law enforcement is that they want an efficient system and that’s what we have, and the courts have been largely receptive, too,” he said.
Barren County Sheriff Eaton said he spoke with the attorney general and offered to utilize the eWarrants system in Barren County as a trial for rural counties.
“I told him we would be willing to be a pilot program so we can get it here sooner,” he said.
In the meantime, Eaton wants to speak with agencies in the counties where the system is currently used in order to get the most use from the new technology.
“We will sit down with the people already using it and see how we can use it,” he said. “I think it will be a benefit to Barren County, and anything new for fighting crime, we’re on board.”
Eaton added that there is not currently a backlog of warrants in the county, because the sheriff’s department has an officer who serves warrants full-time and it uses the Barren County’s Most Wanted List.
Greg Vincent, Edmonson County Attorney and president of the Kentucky County Attorneys Association, said he likes the idea that with the new system he can “go to court, ask for a warrant and have it actually be served.” He said eWarrants will make warrants easier to find for both law enforcement and attorneys.
“Currently the system only has high level warrants, which go nationwide. It doesn’t list all of the bench issued warrants for people who have been summoned to court and ran, for example. So if a law enforcement officer were to pull over that individual, it might not come up on the screen. We might as well haven’t even done anything. In the new system, they will all be listed and he can print it off right there.”
The grant is one of seven for which Conway applied earlier this year to assist law enforcement agencies across the state, and he said he is still waiting to hear from the federal government about the others.
- Local News
-
-
Many have competed for years
Sounding themes that resonate with followers of the tea party, a Louisville businessman and advocate of charter schools said Thursday he will seek next year’s Republican Party nomination for governor.
-
Local developers buy Barren River Plaza
A Glasgow shopping center that had lost the majority of its tenants during the last few years after one of the anchor stores relocated to Veterans Outer Loop may be getting a second chance at renewed life.
-
Metcalfe agrees to give recovery bond money to Barren County
At least one county has agreed to turn over its Recovery Zone Facility Bonds to Barren County for an economic development project.
-
Families work as team to show cattle
Judge Brian Hornback from Elizabethtown was keeping a watchful eye as both youth and adults led their show cattle around the ring in the pavilion at the Temple Hill Fairgrounds on Wednesday night.
-
Day of caring strikes locally
Caring is a daily practice, but for one day the Barren County Chapter of United Way and local businesses devoted their time to going over and above.
-
Lake levels fall to summer pool
Boaters and other water lovers can enjoy Barren River Lake more safely that the lake level has receded after a couple of months of high water.
-
Wheeler off to the races in California
Zack Wheeler has wanted to be an Olympian since he started running track in sixth grade. On Friday, he will go a step further to reaching that dream.
-
LOCAL BRIEFS
-
Livestock shows begin on opening day
Rebecca Hurley stood inside the show ring grooming her Boer goat before the Youth Goat Show on Tuesday afternoon at the Barren County Fair.
-
Six new members added to athletic hall
The seventh class of the Daily Times’ Glasgow-Barren County Athletic Hall of Fame has been selected by a committee vote. It includes six individuals who either left an athletic legacy through their accomplishments on the field or in the gym, or who shaped the athletic programs of the area.
- More Local News Headlines
-
