by Dan Conti, Kentucky Public Radio The Commonwealth’s Attorney for thee eastern Kentucky counties has concerns about a mandatory release program that begins next week. The Department of Corrections is due to release nearly 1,000 nonviolent felons back into their communities as part of an effort to save on prison costs. The released prisoners will […]
Tag Archives: prison
New U of L Exhibit Showcases Prison Art
A new art exhibit called “Bars to Walls” begins Friday at the University of Louisville, which showcases artwork from Kentucky state prisoners. Around 70 inmates from nine different prisons are participating in the exhibit. Cory Maynard is one of the few artists who will be able to see their artwork in public. He’s a current […]
Frankfort Prison to Become State Police Training Academy
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has decided to close a minimum security prison and make it a training academy for Kentucky State Police. Beshear says the state no longer needs the Frankfort Career Development Center, which houses 205 low-risk inmates. “Our inmate population has dropped, more than 1600 inmates, between February 15, 2008 and April 20 […]
Corrections Bill Gives Police More Discretion on Whether to Arrest Some Offenders
The legislation is meant to reduce prison costs and crowding largely by steering drug offenders toward treatment programs. Senate Judiciary Committee chair Tom Jensen says it also gives police more flexibility to issue citations for misdemeanor drug crimes, such as marijuana possession, rather than make arrests.
Beshear Says He Will Sign Corrections Reform Bill
The bill’s proponents say it will save the state more than $400 million over ten years. About half of those savings will be reinvested into programs to keep the prison population low.
Attorney Seeks to Block Lethal Injection Drug Doses From Being Used
There is a national shortage of sodium thiopental, which is one of the drugs used in executions. The commonwealth recently purchased enough of the drug from a company in Georgia to perform three lethal injections.
Recidivism Rates Drop In Kentucky
Department of Corrections spokesperson Lisa Lamb says the drop in the recidivism rate can’t be specifically attributed to new initiatives aimed at helping felons re-enter society, avoid parole violations and break addictions, but those programs likely played a role.
Riot Report Delayed
State officials now say a final report on the cause of a recent riot at a central Kentucky prison will be made public early next week.
Madoff in "Green" Prison
Bernie Madoff’s investment strategy was far from sustainable. But his prison is!
That’s right. Madoff’s clink is the nation’s first LEED-certified prison.
Proposal to Trim Prison Population: Change Felony Law
Like other agencies, Kentucky’s Justice and Public Safety Cabinet must trim four percent from its budget. The agency oversees the state’s prisons, which have seen the largest growth in population in the country. Cabinet Secretary Michael Brown is proposing changes in the law which might help slow that growth.