COVINGTON - Kenton County judicial and law enforcement leaders say their problems with unserved arrest warrants aren't unique. And, on Monday, they said they want the state legislature to clarify who's responsible for finding people wanted by the courts.
''We're trying to do a local cure for something that's a statewide problem,'' County Treasurer Ivan Frye said.
Kenton County has an estimated 9,000 unserved warrants for a variety of offenses, such as contempt and failure to appear in court or pay fines. The murder last spring of Sandra Colston by her husband - wanted for a year for failure to report to a parole officer - brought the issue to the forefront.
A special meeting Monday, called by District Judge Marty Sheehan, brought together major players in the judicial system.
Police Chief Mike Browning told the judges what local law enforcement officials are doing to dent the backlog, including creating a two-person fugitive unit in his department to track down people who have moved.
Much of Monday's discussion centered on who in law enforcement has the duty to serve warrants. Traditionally, that has gone to the sheriff. Kentucky law doesn't specify who is responsible, instead giving everyone that authority.
Mr. Frye compared the situation to the adage that says when two people are responsible, no one is responsible. ''That's the problem now,'' he said.
Judge Sheehan said one state law requires city police departments to serve warrants on people who live in their cities for crimes committed there.
District Judge Frank Trusty said that statute is probably a hangover from Kentucky's old judicial system that had city courts. ''That's kind of a crazy statute,'' Judge Sheehan said.
Additionally, the current statewide court system, which came into existence about 20 years ago, predated the computer era, Mr. Frye said. ''Now we have technology that's overtaken the statutes,'' he said.
Participants also discussed whose duty it is to maintain the countywide warrants computer system set up by the fiscal court but operated by the circuit court clerk.
Circuit Court Clerk Mary Ann Woltenberg has said her office will stop operating the system. Her office inherited the duty - which is not a legal requirement of the job - several years ago when other problems surfaced.
She said the growing number of warrants and the prospect of a three-county system are two reasons her office cannot staff the system. Even though her office is the logical one to do the job, she said other mandated duties need more people as well. ''It makes sense, but it is not a position that we are supposed to do,'' Mrs. Woltenberg said.
Several people suggested that the fiscal court pay for a position in Mrs. Woltenberg's office to maintain the computer system. ''The amount of money involved is insignificant to the problem itself,'' Mr. Frye said.
Mrs. Woltenberg estimated that a staff of two could do the job.
The group decided to give local police until June to see whether their recent efforts are working.
''I think we're on the right process,'' Chief Browning said, noting that most city departments are trying to find people in their jurisdictions. Among the other changes, the chief said, probation officers are calling police once a probationer misses an appointment.
''Before there were no communications at all,'' he said.
Several attendees stressed that an increased effort should be made to serve the warrant once it is issued. ''You're more apt to catch them at that address today than you are six months from now,'' Judge Trusty said.
Mrs. Woltenberg also suggested printing the warrants list in newspapers. She said some people think when they bond out of jail they've met their obligation - not realizing court hearings and fines follow.
The county attorney's office and the commonwealth attorney are also reviewing outstanding warrants to see whether any should be removed from the list.
Also attending the meeting were: Kenton District Judge William Schmaedecke; Jailer Don Younger; Ken Easterling, a prosecutor; Sheriff Bill Steenken; and Deputies Pat Morgan and Bill Averdick.
On a related topic, the group also voiced support for having apprehension orders - the juvenile system's equivalent of an arrest warrant - placed on computer, if state law allows.
The current system consists of a folder of the orders at the jail. Unlike the adult system, where dispatchers have access to the warrants computer and check names that way, a call must be made to the jail, where the records are searched by hand.
Previous stories
Bonne, Campbell focus on big backlog Feb. 16, 1997.
Kenton Co. sheriff cancels 2nd shift Feb. 13, 1997.
Warrants backlog burgeons Feb. 8, 1997.
Searchers will have updated suspect list Jan. 15, 1997.
Chief organizes warrant search Jan. 5, 1997.
Kenton to focus on most wanted Dec. 26, 1996
Warrant backlog worse in Boone, Campbell Dec. 22, 1996
Kenton police chief proposes special unit Dec. 19, 1996
Sheriff pulls deputies off FBI team Dec. 18, 1996
Lawmakers want answer to unserved warrants Dec. 17, 1996
4,200 unserved warrants in Kenton County Dec. 15, 1996
