Gun Violence Prosecution Program  
On March 19, 2002, the Spencer County Prosecutor's Office was awarded a grant by the U.S. Dept. of Justice through its Community Gun Violence Prosecution Program.

 

The Community Gun Violence Prosecution Program was authorized by Congress to:

  1. allocate resources directly to prosecutors across the country, enabling them to assign assistant prosecutors dedicated to the prosecution of firearm-related violent crime;
  2. impose the long-term ability of prosecution agencies to more fully address the issue of firearm-related violent crime within their jurisdiction;
  3. deter firearm-related violent crime through the swift certainty of prosecution.
Spencer County will be receiving $96,000 under this program to assist in paying the salary and benefits of a full-time deputy prosecutor who will be dedicated to prosecuting firearm-related matters for a three-year period. Grant resources provide 80% of the total salary and benefits, costs, while the remaining 20% of costs are funded through monies paid by offenders into the Prosecution Deferral Program. Attorney Dan Wilkinson of rural Chrisney has been hired and begun work in the prosecutor's office on August 1, 2002.

Spencer County was awarded this grant despite being a small, rural county. While its population is only 26,000, it is located within one hour of two metropolitan areas of Evansville, Indiana and Owensboro, Kentucky which results in an increased number of gun related cases.

The full-time deputy hired under this program will particularly assist in the prosecution of the following offenses:

  1. homicide or cases of violence with a firearm;
  2. drug manufacturing, dealing, and possession cases involving firearms;
  3. possession of firearms by convicted felons; and
  4. possession of firearms in violation of restraining/protective orders.

The program will also involve the development and implementation of a community public awareness campaign as well as coordination with the county probation to ensure that those do not possess firearms in violation of their probation terms.

Inquiries to :    
  Dan Wilkinson, Deputy Prosecutor (812) 649-6038