University of KY College of Law Starts Rural Drug Prosecution Assistance Project

University of Kentucky College of Law students and recent graduates are gaining valuable 'hands on' experience, while commonwealth attorneys' offices, the Department of Public Advocacy, and the judiciary in rural parts of Kentucky are receiving effective help in fighting drug-related crime under the Rural Drug Prosecution Assistance Project (RDPAP).

These promising results were cited today by U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as he received an update about the innovative program in the UK law school.  McConnell earmarked federal funds for the RDPAP from the U.S. Department of Justice.

"I am pleased to hear about the successes of this project so far," said McConnell.  "This is a worthwhile program that helps our justice officials, UK law students, and citizens."

In all, McConnell secured a total of $2.5 million in funding for RDPAP.

To date, the project has paid for 83 summer internships for first and second-year UK law students and a total of 15 placements of recent UK law graduates to assist the criminal justice system in rural parts of Kentucky. Implementation of the program began in the summer of 2006.

RDPAP places highly-qualified law students in rural counties as ssistant commonwealth attorneys, public defenders (for the Department of Public Advocacy), and as clerks to Circuit Court judges, with special emphasis on drug-related cases. [Mark Godsey]