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First Day Forward staff offer free Narcan and program pamphlets. (Northeastern Kentucky Substance Use Response Coalition via Facebook)

Reentry program for people incarcerated offers a model for others

By Taylor Sisk for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabor…

Nearly 700 Kentuckians died by gun violence in 2019, an average of nearly two people every day. Suicides made up 65% of gun deaths, according to the Kentucky Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence.(Adobe Stock)<br />

KY crisis aversion bill would help decrease gun violence, advocates say

New legislation under consideration by Kentucky lawmakers would allow police to confiscate guns from people whose family members are concerned about t…

Research by the Vera Institute shows that harsher sentences don't deter crime, can even make communities less safe, and are costly. (Adobe Stock)

KY lawmakers consider bill that would expand felony offenses

Under proposed legislation being considered by Republican lawmakers, Kentucky renters would face harsher criminal penalties for property damage…

More than third of the people held in jails in Kentucky are held for federal or state agencies, primarily the state prison system, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Black Kentuckians continue to be incarcerated at high rates

A new study of incarceration trends shows Black people in the Commonwealth are jailed at a rate nearly three times higher than their white peers…

More than thirty states and the District of Columbia have decriminalized low-level cannabis possession offenses, according to The Marijuana Policy Project. (Adobe Stock)<br />

More than 300,000 Kentuckians charged for cannabis over past two decades

Kentuckians continue to be charged, jailed and fined for cannabis-related offenses at high rates, despite dramatic shifts in public opinion, …

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, about one in five young people held in juvenile facilities is awaiting trial and has not been found guilty or delinquent. (Adobe Stock)

A call for greater focus on youth justice in Kentucky

The number of children behind bars in Kentucky has declined significantly in recent years, but their advocates said more work could be done to create …

An attempt to build a $500 million federal prison in Letcher County was defeated in 2019 because of strong local opposition. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed East KY Federal Prison Would Have Devastating Environmental Impacts

After Republican Congressman Hal Rogers inserted language into the latest House appropriations bill which would bypass environmental regulatory proces…

An earlier attempt to build a $500 million federal prison in Letcher County was defeated in 2019 because of strong local opposition. (Adobe Stock)

KY Rep. Pushes to Fast-Track Federal Prison Project, Despite Local Opposition

A more than $500 million proposed federal prison project, which would sit on a former coal mine site in Letcher County, is receiving a renewed push …

The Blackburn Correctional Complex near Lexington incarcerates more than 300 people. (PrisonInsight.com/Flickr)<br />

Kentucky’s Incarcerated Population on the Rise

Kentucky incarcerated more than 32,000 people in 2022 in both local jails and state prisons, a 250% jump from the mid-1980s, according to a new …

The Department of Justice charged four current and former Louisville Metro Police Department officers for the 2020 shooting death of Louisville resident Breonna Taylor. (Adobe Stock)<br />

DOJ Report: Louisville Police Repeatedly Violated Kentuckians’ Civil Rights

The Louisville Metro Police Department engaged in patterns of conduct which violated people's civil rights, said a U.S. Department of Justice report …

Public opinion polls in 2022 showed support for capital punishment remained near historic lows, even amid rising perceptions of crime, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. (Adobe Stock)<br />

In 2022, KY Became 2nd State to Pass Death-Penalty Mental-Illness Exemption

Kentucky became the second state in the nation this year to pass an exemption to the death penalty for people with a serious mental illness. Signed …

One in 10 children in Kentucky has experienced the trauma and hardship of having his or her mom or dad locked up, according to Kentucky Youth Advocates. (Adobe Stock)

Report: KY County Jails Can Help Keep Kids Connected to Incarcerated Parents

Some county jails in the Commonwealth are creating or expanding parent-child visitation policies, but experts argued more work needs to be done to …

Black people are still more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people in every state, including in those states that have legalized marijuana use. (Adobe Stock)

Push to Pardon KY Residents Convicted of Marijuana Possession

Criminal justice reform advocates in the Commonwealth are asking Gov. Andy Beshear to decriminalize marijuana possession. The request follows …

Kentucky's jails are again over capacity, with 21,831 people in jail at the end of April, and an additional 9,835 people incarcerated in state prisons, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

Post-Pandemic, KY Returns to World-High Incarceration Rate

After a drop due to the COVID pandemic, new research found Kentucky is once again crowding more people into jails and prisons. The Bluegrass State …

More than 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

KY Experts: Increasing Fentanyl Penalties Doesn’t Address Overdose Crisis

Kentucky lawmakers are considering a bill that would increase criminal penalties for fentanyl distribution. But critics say the legislation will …

The McElhannons enjoyed Derby Day, one year before his medically assisted death. (McElhannon)

KY Sees Growing Support for Medical-Aid-In Dying Bill

Legislation in Kentucky would give a person who has a terminal illness but is of sound mind the ability to request a medication they could self-admini…

According to state data, more than 2 million Kentuckians voted in the 2020 presidential election. (Adobe Stock)

A Push for Expanded Voting Rights Ahead of KY Midterm Elections

Advocacy groups in Kentucky say they're focused on expanding voting rights for former felons and fighting gerrymandering ahead of the May primary elec…

Kentucky incarcerates 40% more people per capita than the United States' average, which is more than five times larger than other wealthy countries. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Financial Incentives Drive KY Jail Overcrowding, Expansion

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky counties are caught in a cycle of trying to cover the costs of incarceration by locking up more people and building bigger …

Private companies that supply goods to prison commissaries or provide communication services rake in $2.9 billion a year, almost as much money as governments pay private companies to operate private prisons, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (Adobe Stock)

KY County Jails' Profits from Phone Calls Soar During Pandemic

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A new report finds county jails made more than $9 million from payments made for phone calls by incarcerated people, the year …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

As COVID-19 spread last year, prison facilities across the country suspended visits, not only from family members, but from attorneys. (Adobe Stock)

KY Families Can Soon Visit Relatives in Prison

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky families soon will be able to visit loved ones in some prison facilities. Gov. Andy Beshear said prison visitations and …

Mass protests erupted last summer over the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Chauvin Verdict “Disappointing Reminder” of Louisville's Breonna Taylor Case

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In what's being described as a landmark verdict this week, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of second- …

Despite a national decline in youth complaints (or arrests) over the last several years, in 2019 more than 36,000 children between the ages of 10 and 12 were arrested, according to the National Juvenile Justice Network. (Adobe Stock)

Should Kids 12 and Under Be Brought Before a Judge?

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky kids as young as five or six can legally end up in juvenile court because the state currently lacks a minimum age …

As of 2020, it's estimated nationally more than five million people cannot vote due to a prior felony conviction. (Adobe Stock)

KY Lawmakers Weigh Options for Expanding Voting Rights

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- State lawmakers are considering bills to restore rights for people with felonies in their past, as well as expand polling hours…

In 2020, the Historical Horse Racing slot machines brought in $189 million in gross commissions for the industry, but only $15 million ended up in Kentucky's General Fund. (Adobe Stock)

A Taxing Issue: Historical Horse-Racing Slot Machines

FRANKFORT, Ky. - State lawmakers will soon decide the fate of historical horse racing in the Commonwealth - and some experts say if this type of slot-…

About 46% of children in Kentucky live in low-income households, and more than 20% live in poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Young Kentuckians Call on Lawmakers to Invest in Kids

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Young people and their advocates are participating in a weeklong series of virtual events urging Kentucky lawmakers to prioritize …

Since the mid-1980s, Kentucky's prison population has increased by 168%. (Adobe Stock)

KY Felony Theft Charges Have Lifelong Impact, Balloon Prison Population

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky's felony theft threshold has remained unchanged for more than a decade, and critics say it's contributing to a rise in …

Sixteen women have been executed in the United States since 1976. (Adobe Stock)

Neighboring IN Stops Execution of First Woman in More than Six Decades

UPDATE - Jan. 13, 2021 - Lisa Montgomery died today by lethal injection at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind. In late-night decisions, the U.S…

Supporters built a memorial in downtown Louisville, Ky. for Breonna Taylor, who was fatally shot by police during a no-knock raid in March 2020. (Wikimedia Commons).

KY Lawmakers Push for Statewide Ban on No-Knock Search Warrants

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- After the killing of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police, some states have moved to ban no-knock search warrants, and Kentucky …

In 2019, 65% of female inmates in Kentucky state custody were parents, according to data from Kentucky Youth Advocates. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: More KY Moms Incarcerated, with Negative Impacts on Kids

MANCHESTER, Ky. -- A new report says the number of Kentucky women, including mothers, who are incarcerated has skyrocketed. Kentucky Youth …

Marsy's Law is a nationwide victim's rights effort largely funded by California billionaire Henry T. Nicholas III. (Adobe Stock)

Critics Cite Flaws in KY Victims’ Rights Measure

FRANKFORT -- In less than a week, voters will decide whether to add victim's-rights legislation known as Marsy's Law to the state's Constitution…

Protesters have gathered in Louisville for more than 125 days to call for police accountability over the killing of Breonna Taylor. (Adobe Stock)

KY Clergy Urge Transparency in Breonna Taylor Case

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Faith leaders providing sanctuary for protesters under Louisville's citywide curfew, which lifted on Monday, say they're being …

Day and night, protesters have gathered in downtown Louisville over the death of Breonna Taylor. (Nadia Ramlagan)

Demands for Police Accountability Continues as Louisville Pays Taylor's Family

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Six months after Louisville police officers shot and killed 26-year-old Breonna Taylor in her home, city officials announced this …

In 2019, Kentucky was one of six states that made reforms to end voter disenfranchisement for people who were convicted of felonies but served their time. (Adobe Stock)

KY Group Helps People with Past Felonies Register to Vote

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- More than 170,000 Kentuckians with past felonies have had their voting rights restored, but many may not be aware of the change…

Protests Highlight Frustration Over Lack of Accountability, Investigation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Protests in Louisville and Lexington over the weekend highlight growing public frustration with a system that offers little …

Juvenile-court officials say school closures because of the coronavirus pandemic have contributed to the nationwide drop in youth arrests and detention. (Adobe Stock)

COVID-19 Leading to “Extremely Isolating” Experience for Detained KY Youth

COVINGTON, Ky. -- Juvenile courts report arrests of young people have dropped since the coronavirus pandemic began. Data from the Annie E. Casey …

Common practices to stop the spread of COVID-19 are nearly impossible to enact among incarcerated populations. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Urge Release of Older Prison Population Due to COVID-19

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- While most of the country practices frequent handwashing and social distancing, prisons and jails are housing people that can't …

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, nearly 2 million people with mental illnesses are booked into jails each year. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed Bill Would Ban Death Penalty for Severely Mentally Ill Persons

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky lawmakers are considering a bill that would prevent seriously mentally ill defendants from receiving the death penalty…

There are currently 31 people on death row in Kentucky prisons. (Adobe Stock)

Executions, Death Sentences at Record Lows in U.S.

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Use of the death penalty is disappearing from entire sections of the United States, and eroding in others. That's according …

The United States Penitentiary Big Sandy, located near Inez, Ky., has a prison population of about 1,300 men. (Roger May)

Appalachian Communities Say Prison Jobs are "Phantom Promise'"

By Alison Stine Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan Reporting for the YES! Media-Kentucky News Connection Collaboration WHITESBURG, Ky. – Big …

Kentucky spends about $10 million annually on death-penalty court proceedings, according to the state's Department of Public Advocacy. (Adobe Stock)

KY Judge Rules Death Penalty Protocol Unconstitutional

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A Franklin County judge has ruled the state's protocol for carrying out the death penalty is unconstitutional. The ruling by …

Letcher County residents and environmental groups have stopped the building of a proposed $510 million prison on reclaimed land. (Adobe Stock)

Letcher County Residents Stop Proposed Federal Prison on Coal Mine Site

WHITESBURG, Ky. — Local activists in Letcher County have forced the Federal Bureau of Prisons to withdraw its intent to construct a new $510 …

New research suggests that Kentucky's cash bail policies in some counties contribute to jail overcrowding and strain county budgets. (Adobe Stock)

Report: In KY, Staying in Jail May Depend on Where You Live

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Where you live in Kentucky might determine whether you stay in jail before trial because you can't afford the cash bail…

A patient gets his hand tattoo removed. (Adobe Stock)

Volunteers in Northern KY Remove Tattoos for Returning Citizens

COVINGTON, Ky. - A small nonprofit in Northern Kentucky is removing face, neck and hand tattoos for people starting a new life after serving time in …

A 2016 poll found that about 70 percent of Kentuckians agree the capital-punishment system risks executing the innocent. (@annie29/Twenty20)

Momentum Builds Across Party Lines to Abolish Death Penalty

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Thirty lawmakers from all sides of the political spectrum are co-sponsoring a bill to abolish the death penalty in Kentucky…

The Kentucky State Penitentiary complex in Eddyville, Ky., holds more than 850 people and has been in operation since the 1880s. (Wikimedia Commons)

Life After Prison a Challenge in KY Communities

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Researchers are following 230 Kentuckians who either are incarcerated or have recently been released, as part of a national …

Kentuckians with felony convictions who have served their time are demanding the right to vote. (Kentuckians for the Commonwealth/Flickr)

With Eyes on Governor, Kentuckians with Felonies Rally for Right to Vote

FRANKFORT, Ky. – People with felonies in their past are rallying in Frankfort today, calling on Gov. Matt Bevin to return voting rights to …

Death-penalty opponents say not only does capital punishment cost more than a life sentence, a wrongful execution can't be reversed. (Jason Rosenberg/Flickr)

KY Students Hear Conservative Case Against Death Penalty

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Conservatives historically are pegged as champions of the death penalty, but some say there's growing momentum to change that …

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KY: Criminal Justice