Policy Changes to Address Police Violence
With the recent police killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and David McAtee – in a long history of state-sanctioned...
Criminal Justice
To Protect Kentuckians from COVID-19, State Needs to Build on Already Significant Declines in Incarceration
In recent weeks, important steps have been taken to address the public health crisis posed by incarceration in Kentucky’s jails and prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in historic declines...
Despite Some Progress, There Is Still an Urgent Need for Kentucky to Do More to Address the Potential Spread of COVID-19 in Jails and Prisons
Reducing the number of people in jails and prisons is increasingly a focus of state, local and also nationwide efforts to protect public health during the COVID-19 crisis. However, despite...
SB 1 Would Harm Kentucky Kids, Economy
After receiving a second reading on the House floor yesterday, Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) continues to advance in the House, despite the harms to Kentucky kids and our economy...
HB 424’s Reformed Felony Threshold Would Reduce Incarceration for Low-Level Theft
Today the Senate Judiciary committee will hear a House-passed bill that would reduce incarceration – especially important as the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to make Kentucky’s current jail overcrowding even more...
Report Shows Importance of Expungement to Kentuckians’ Health – House Bill 327 Would Be Step Forward
Expanding expungement in Kentucky is good for health, according to new research published by the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. The report details the findings from a...
SB 1 Will Worsen Racial Disparities in Kentucky
Each time it passes new legislation, Kentucky’s General Assembly has an opportunity to address barriers faced by Kentuckians of color and promote policies that allow all of us to thrive,...
Bill Supports Public Safety and Protects Children From Automatically Being Tried as Adults
Current law in Kentucky mandates that children charged with certain felony offenses be prosecuted as adults, rather than as juveniles. The current law limits the discretion of prosecutors and judges,...
Harsh Measure Threatens Kentucky’s Families and Finances
A new harmful and costly immigration proposal – Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) – would create an impractical mandate for most public agencies in Kentucky to participate in federal immigration...
Why Are Many Kentucky Jails So Crowded?
Over the past few months, Kentucky’s severely overcrowded jails have been in the spotlight. While other states have enacted significant criminal justice reforms, reducing their prison and jail populations without...