Criminal Justice

The 2021 Legislative Session Saw Important Criminal Justice Progress, But We Must Continue to Work for Systemic Change

With Kentucky’s 2021 General Assembly now behind us, and with issues of police violence against Black Americans remaining in the...

Analysis

SB 4 Would Limit No-Knock Warrants and Reduce Harm, but New Amendments Undermine Positive Impact

On the one year anniversary of the killing of Breonna Taylor by police in March 2020, public officials, community organizations and advocates continue to call for a ban of “no-knock”...

Analysis

SB 36 Would Protect Children from Automatically Being Tried as Adults

Senate Bill (SB) 36, sponsored by Senator Whitney Westerfield, would eliminate a provision in Kentucky law mandating that children charged with certain felony offenses be prosecuted as adults, rather than...

Analysis

Despite Continued Risks from COVID-19, Kentucky Jail Population Continues to Increase

Between March and May of 2020, the jail population in Kentucky fell by a third (24,183 to 16,167) as a result of releases aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19....

Analysis

HB 126’s Reformed Felony Threshold Would Reduce Incarceration for Low-Level Theft

The House Judiciary committee is scheduled to hear a bill sponsored by Representative Ed Massey, House Bill (HB) 126, on Wednesday, February 3. HB 126 would increase the threshold at...

Analysis

New Data Helps Pave the Way for Bail Reform in Kentucky

Legislators and advocates have been discussing bail reform for years, with general agreement that too many Kentuckians are incarcerated while awaiting trial, many because they cannot afford bail. Past bail...

Op-Ed

Letter to Governor Beshear: Coalition Statement on COVID-19 Vaccine and Incarcerated Kentuckians

COVID-19 vaccine Doses On January 19, 2021, a coalition of Kentucky organizations and individuals submitted the following letter to Governor Beshear. Dear Governor Beshear, As COVID-19 spreads throughout the country...

Analysis

Banning No-Knock Warrants Is an Important First Step in Addressing Police Violence Through Demilitarization

Since the killing of Breonna Taylor by police in March during a drug investigation, public officials, community organizations and advocates have called for bans of “no-knock” warrants, which have become...

Report

Waiver to Provide Substance Use Disorder Treatment to Incarcerated People Shouldn’t Increase Incarceration

KyPolicy submitted the following comments on the 1115 Waiver Amendment – SUD Incarceration Services to the DMS Commissioner's office on November 6, 2020. You can read them in PDF form...

Analysis

IDs Are a Necessity for Successful Reentry

When people who have been incarcerated are released from jail and prison, support services such as housing and mental health can help them get back on their feet and avoid...

The 2021 Legislative Session Saw Important Criminal Justice Progress, But We Must Continue to Work for Systemic Change

SB 4 Would Limit No-Knock Warrants and Reduce Harm, but New Amendments Undermine Positive Impact

SB 36 Would Protect Children from Automatically Being Tried as Adults

Despite Continued Risks from COVID-19, Kentucky Jail Population Continues to Increase

HB 126’s Reformed Felony Threshold Would Reduce Incarceration for Low-Level Theft

New Data Helps Pave the Way for Bail Reform in Kentucky

Letter to Governor Beshear: Coalition Statement on COVID-19 Vaccine and Incarcerated Kentuckians

Banning No-Knock Warrants Is an Important First Step in Addressing Police Violence Through Demilitarization

Waiver to Provide Substance Use Disorder Treatment to Incarcerated People Shouldn’t Increase Incarceration

IDs Are a Necessity for Successful Reentry

Research that works for Kentucky

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