Fighting for Kentucky
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In November 2007, voters elected Jack Conway as the 49th Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Jack is committed to working with local leaders and law-enforcement officers to make Kentucky a safer place to live, work and raise a family. In June 2008, Jack created a Cybercrimes Unit to investigate online solicitations of minors, investigate consumer scams and identity theft. The Cybercrimes Unit also processes digital evidence found on cell phones and computers—greatly reducing the turnaround time for investigators—and it trains police and prosecutors across Kentucky in how to process and preserve digital evidence. Jack recognizes that education is a key element in prevention and has visited with more than 24,000 students, parents and teachers in every corner of the Commonwealth to talk with them about keeping our kids safe while they are online.
In March of 2009, Jack worked in a bi-partisan manner and successfully lobbied the Kentucky State Legislature to unanimously pass comprehensive cyber safety legislation. This effort helps the Office of the Attorney protect children from online predators and brings Kentucky’s laws up to date with changes in technology. Attorney General Conway is a member of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) cyber-safety task force, working with MySpace and Facebook to create parental safety controls, sweep sex offenders off these sites and develop age-verification software. To date, more than 90,000 registered sex offenders have been removed from MySpace thanks to the efforts of General Conway and his colleagues. In addition, Jack serves on NAAG’s Youth Access to Alcohol Committee, leading efforts to curb under-aged drinking.Attorney General Conway has kept his pledge to help fight illegal drugs in Kentucky communities. He created the state's first statewide prescription drug task force.
It participated in the largest bust in Kentucky's history, resulting in more than 500 indictments. He received the “Soaring Eagle” award from Operation Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education (UNITE) for his efforts to fight prescription drug abuse. The Office of the Attorney General also received UNITE’s “Most Valuable Agency” award for its participation in joint investigations. Attorney General Conway is committed to protecting consumers. In July 2008, he launched an investigation into the wholesale price of gasoline in Kentucky. He has subpoenaed information from suppliers and refiners and asked the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice and the Office of Government Accountability to review the merger of Marathon and Ashland Oil. He levied fines against gas retailers that gouged after windstorms hit the state in 2008.
Attorney General Conway also took on utility companies who sought to increase rates for consumers. Thanks to his efforts, Kentucky consumers saved more than $100 million.
