Seventh-highest overall rate, third-highest female rate point to need for serious action from state lawmakers   Louisville, KY (Oct. 28, 2020)— New data from the federal agency charged with tracking criminal justice statistics around the nation again highlights Kentucky’s grim per capita imprisonment rate.   For the second year in a row, Kentucky had the seventh-highest […]

Coalition ramping up advocacy for justice system reforms LOUISVILLE, KY (Sept. 17. 2020) – Today, Kentucky Smart on Crime, a broad-based coalition that advocates for common-sense justice reforms that enhance public safety, strengthen communities, and promote cost-effective sentencing alternatives, announced the addition of three new partner organizations, NAACP of Kentucky, Kentucky Criminal Justice Forum, and […]

Over 30 organizations across the Commonwealth have built a comprehensive tool aimed at connecting formerly incarcerated individuals with the supports needed for a fresh start LOUISVILLE, Ky. (June 10, 2020)— Today, a group of over 30 supporting organizations launched a Kentucky Reentry Resource Guide for those returning to their communities after incarceration. The reentry hub is geared toward […]

Frankfort, Ky. (Mar. 18, 2020)—Today, the Kentucky Smart on Crime Coalition released the following statement after the Kentucky Senate passed bills relating to expungement as well as probation compliance credits.  HB327 and HB284 now head to concurrence before they can be sent to the Governor’s desk. “The Kentucky Smart on Crime Coalition commends the General […]

Frankfort, Ky. (Feb. 10, 2020)—Today, the Kentucky Smart on Crime Coalition released the following statement after the Kentucky House of Representatives passed both expungement and probation compliance credit measures without opposition.  The bills now move on to the State Senate. “The Kentucky Smart on Crime Coalition applauds the House of Representatives for passing HB327 and HB284,” said Kate Shanks, […]

The Kentucky General Assembly can turn the tide and safely lower our sky-high incarceration rates Kentucky is a national anomaly.  While most states are safely reducing their levels of incarceration, ours continues to surge.  The substance use disorder crisis combined with year after year of the General Assembly passing many sentence enhancements/expanded crimes/new crimes (31 […]

Kentucky Youth Advocates, a partner in the Kentucky Smart on Crime Coalition, analyzed the newest U.S. Census Bureau data from 2016-2018 and found that the Bluegrass State continues to have the highest-in-the-nation rate of children raised by a relative.   Compared to the previous period from 2013-2015, the numbers have nearly doubled from 53,000 to 96,000 […]

The Kentucky Smart on Crime Coalition (KY SOC) announces the addition of three new coalition members: Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc., Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and Volunteers of America Mid-States, Inc. Joining the eight current members, American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, Catholic Conference of Kentucky, […]

Robust, data-driven justice reform could be coming to the Commonwealth. The time is now as the state faces the prospect of a $600M increased cost to taxpayers and a 19% rise in prison populations over the next decade if no changes are made. Read House Bil 396 here Read more about the legislation from coalition […]

Kentucky Youth Advocates highlights the urgency of criminal justice reforms in the Commonwealth Kentucky Youth Advocates, a partner in the Kentucky Smart on Crime Coalition, released an important issue brief February 8th highlighting the troubling and growing prevalence of children with incarcerated parents in the Commonwealth.  The brief, Minimizing the Impact of Parental Incarceration on […]