The Department of Public Advocacy strives to maintain several channels of communication to keep our staff, criminal legal stakeholders, and the general public informed about polices and practices that effect DPA and the clients we serve. Below you can read about our press releases and announcements, scroll through our latest updates on social media, view archives of our reports and publications, and get updated on news within the agency.
Recent Press Releases and Announcements
- Derrick Howard Appointed Harlan Directing Attorney
(3/1/2023) Derrick Howard received his B.A. in history from Alice Lloyd College in 2012 and his J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2015. Derrick joined DPA in 2015 in the Bell County Office before transferring to the Hazard office in 2019. He lives in the Red Bird area of Clay County … Read more - Jason McGee Appointed Henderson Directing Attorney
(3/1/2023) Jason joined DPA in 2008 as Staff Attorney in the Owensboro Trial Office. He grew up in Louisville and obtained an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Louisville. He is a graduate of the University of Dayton School of Law. Jason lives in Owensboro with his wife, Jennifer. - Lacy Andrews Appointed Danville Directing Attorney
(12/1/2022) Lacy graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2010, where she participated in EKU’s Mock Trial Team program, and graduated with a degree in Communication Studies. Lacy then attended the University of Kentucky College of Law, where she graduated in 2013. Lacy is an EKU School of Communication Distinguished Alumni (2018) and received a Young … Read more
Recent Reports and Publications
- We Must Significantly Reduce the Jail Population to Protect Kentuckians from COVID-19As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread throughout Kentucky, we urge you to heed the advice of Chief Justice Minton and “safely release as many defendants as we can as quickly as we can” from Kentucky jails. [1] [Minton Twitter] “We know what a potential disaster this could be and it’s our responsibility to work with jailers … Read more
- Status Report on the 2011 Death Penalty Assessment Team RecommendationsDPA’s Public Advocate Damon Preston, along with prior Public Advocates and Executive Directors of the Louisville Metro Public Defender’s Office, compiled this report on the lack of action taken by Kentucky to address serious deficiencies in the administration of the death penalty in Kentucky. What follows is an excerpt from the executive summary, but you … Read more
- Governor Turns Over Rock of Criminal Justice System, Finds Much Messiness
On Wednesday, December 11, 2019, my client Kurt Smith slept outside of a correctional facility for the first time since he was a teenager, after receiving a pardon from Governor Bevin. He was not the only one, many people received commutations and pardons that either resulted in release, or gave them hope for release for the first time ever.
Recent News Within the Agency
- Derrick Howard Appointed Harlan Directing Attorney(3/1/2023) Derrick Howard received his B.A. in history from Alice Lloyd College in 2012 and his J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2015. Derrick joined DPA in 2015 in the Bell County Office before transferring to the Hazard office in 2019. He lives in the Red Bird area of Clay County … Read more
- Jason McGee Appointed Henderson Directing Attorney(3/1/2023) Jason joined DPA in 2008 as Staff Attorney in the Owensboro Trial Office. He grew up in Louisville and obtained an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Louisville. He is a graduate of the University of Dayton School of Law. Jason lives in Owensboro with his wife, Jennifer.
- Lacy Andrews Appointed Danville Directing Attorney(12/1/2022) Lacy graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2010, where she participated in EKU’s Mock Trial Team program, and graduated with a degree in Communication Studies. Lacy then attended the University of Kentucky College of Law, where she graduated in 2013. Lacy is an EKU School of Communication Distinguished Alumni (2018) and received a Young … Read more