Justice Cabinet Says Kentucky Doesn't Need Constables

Enlarge image

Credit odmp.org

A new report by Kentucky's Justice Cabinet is advocating for the elimination of the office of constable.

The office is set in the Kentucky Constitution, but the report says the office no longer helps in law enforcement and is often a liability.

Constables have been under attack for the past year, after several high profile instances occurred in Louisville and Lexington. During the last legislative session, there was a move to get a constitutional amendment passed to eliminate the office, but it did not gain enough steam to make it to the ballot this year.

Instead, lawmakers gave more control over constables to county government, who sometimes still use those elected to the office for small tasks.

If lawmakers attempt to remove the office through an amendment again, it would not go to voters to decide until 2014.