Pubdate: Fri, 25 Mar 2005
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
Copyright: 2005 Lexington Herald-Leader
Contact:  http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240
Author: Delano R. Massey
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

LAWYERS, STUDENTS TO FIGHT DRUGS

Interns From UK Will Help Prosecuters

University of Kentucky law students will team up with law professionals
to help combat a growing drug problem in rural Kentucky.

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell joined University of Kentucky President Lee
Todd yesterday to announce that $1 million in federal funds has been
earmarked for the UK College of Law Rural Drug Prosecution Assistance
Project.

Through the program, students will work as summer interns in offices
for commonwealth's attorneys, U.S. attorneys, the state attorney
general and circuit court judges. The program provides some stipends.
The project also offers salary grants and tuition aid for graduates to
work with the legal system.

After the announcement, McConnell said he tries to help UK's law
school from time to time by earmarking federal funds for projects that
"seem to make a lot of sense."

"This rural drug enforcement effort seems like something the school
feels will provide, not only an opportunity for students, but to
actually fight a real problem out there that's a scourge to rural
Kentucky -- that's methamphetamine and OxyContin," McConnell said.

Five years ago, federal agents in Kentucky seized 104 labs that were
making methamphetamine, according to a report from the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration. By 2003, the report said, that number had
climbed to 476. Last year, 377 meth labs were seized. Meanwhile, the
state continues battling with the misuse of prescription drugs.
According to the most recent study, 19,366 dosage units of diverted
pharmaceutical drugs were confiscated in 2003.

After speaking with several law officials on the front lines, College
of Law Dean Allan Vestal said he learned that one of the biggest
problems was funding positions to enable them to prosecute more cases.

"We simply didn't have enough assistant commonwealth's attorneys out
there, we didn't have enough public defenders, we didn't have enough
clerks for judges," Vestal said. "I think this is going to be a very
effective way of masking those resources."

Todd also feels this would bring the university closer to his goal to
become one of the nation's top-20 public research institutions. In his
first year as president, Todd said there was $5.4 million in federal
earmark. This year, he said, the university has $27 million.

"Getting that first grant is key," Todd said. He added that once you
get programs started, you can find additional funding.

It's not clear how many positions the current program could fund, but
Gregory Van Tatenhove, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of
Kentucky, said the internships were a way to continue developing the
talent pool, and he hoped the internships would eventually lead to
long-term decisions.

"We are always looking for ways to encourage young lawyers to choose
public service," he said. "And when there are the public sector
opportunities and compensation that's related to those that are
available, that's sometimes a tough sell."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin