Community News

COUNTY ATTORNEY HITS TOP 10 IN STATE PERFORMANCE

COUNTY ATTORNEY HITS TOP 10 IN STATE PERFORMANCE

Hopkins County Attorney, Todd P’Pool, and the Hopkins County Child Support Unit have reached their goal of becoming a "Top 10" Child Support Unit out of 120 counties statewide. This is the first time that Hopkins County has ever been ranked so high according to the statewide ranking compiled by Frankfort. Frankfort uses statistical data compiled from each county covering establishment of child support and paternity orders as well as overall collections to determine each county’s rank statewide.

In order to reach its goal of becoming a "Top 10" county, the Hopkins County Child Support Unit has implemented several innovative ideas and has collaborated with other agencies on a broader basis than their typical roles. Specifically, the Unit uses David Anderson, a local constable to serve most of its motions, complaints, and subpoenas. They have specific contact people within both the Madisonville Police Department and The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office in order for warrants to be issued and served and they work closely with the Hopkins County Probation & Parole to get addresses and job information. Family Court has also been instrumental in resolving all issues relating to a specific case at once.

The Child Support Unit reviews each file on a quarterly basis and often works to intercept tax payments and pursue criminal actions where appropriate. According to P’Pool, "We are continuing to find innovative ways to get money flowing to single parents whenever possible." Because of the Child Support Unit’s continued efforts to make the process more efficient and productive as possible, the Unit recently received the Cabinet’s Outstanding Performance Award for Child Support and is now ranked within the Top "10" of all counties statewide.

###

County Attorney, Todd P’Pool hits trifecta with 3 guilty verdicts!

County Attorney, Todd P’Pool hits trifecta with 3 guilty verdicts!

P’Pool put John Hamilton back behind bars for the maximum sentence of 12 months on a guilty verdict by a Hopkins County Jury, the defendant who was out on bond for Murder, stole a rifle scope from Wal-Mart. The phony confession of Jamal Woods earned him a jail sentence of 9 months and little brother, Steven Hamilton, earned a sentence of 3 months for driving the vehicle with the stolen merchandise.

Shoplifting in Hopkins County does not pay!

Child Support Unit Receives Statewide Award

STATE AWARDS TODD P’POOL AND THE CHILD SUPPORT UNIT

2009 OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARD

Hopkins County Attorney Todd P’Pool and the Child Support Unit were recognized at the Kentucky State Child Support Conference last week in Louisville, Kentucky as the recipients of the 2009 Outstanding Performance Award. The Hopkins County Child Support Unit has climbed 73 spots in the state rankings since Todd P’Pool was elected County Attorney in 2007. Previously, Hopkins County was ranked 89^th as compared to its current position at 16^th.

P’Pool named Shaun McEntire as an Assistant County Attorney and appointed her as Director of the Child Support Unit in 2007. Since that time, the staff has worked vigorously to clear case backlogs, implement technology and improve customer service. In addition, they accepted the added responsibility of felony non-support prosecution, a statutory function of the Commonwealth Attorney, in an effort to streamline the process and create swift and efficient prosecutions of the more serious non-support cases.

In 2007, the agency, with the support of court personnel and local law enforcement, conducted a countywide sweep that led to the indictment, arrest and prosecution of 45 felony non-support cases and earlier this year intercepted nearly $20,000 from class-action plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Hopkins County jail.

“Many of our caseworkers have given years of dedicated service to Hopkins County and this award represents a very proud day for those ladies, our community and this agency,” said Todd P’Pool, Hopkins County Attorney. It is the first time in the history of the agency that the Child Support Unit has received this award.

###

2009 Juvenile Justice Award Winners

TODD P’POOL AWARDS THREE LOCAL STUDENTS WITH THE

2009 JUVENILE JUSTICE AWARD

Hopkins County Attorney, Todd P’Pool, will announce the 2009 Juvenile Justice Award winners Tuesday morning at North Hopkins High School. This is a cash award to any student who demonstrates courage, character and/or civic responsibility. All students in Hopkins County are eligible to win. Students must be nominated by their teacher, and the prosecution team of Hopkins County Attorney’s office reviews each entry and selects one outstanding student from each division, elementary, middle, and high school. “Research has proven that catching kids doing something right is a powerful motivation that encourages good conduct in the future” said P’Pool.

The monies to fund this award are taken directly from Community Outreach, a division of the Hopkins County Attorney’s office, drug testing program; we want these proceeds to be re-invested in our community for a positive purpose working for juveniles.

2009 RECIPIENTS

Thomas Geary Elementary Division $100.00

E’Lajah Dunkerson Middle School Division $250.00

Jesse Donohue High School Division $500.00