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 […]

Ninth-highest overall rate, second-highest female rate demonstrate necessity of criminal justice reform in 2018 session of General Assembly New data from the federal agency charged with tracking criminal justice statistics around the nation reveals Kentucky’s incarceration rate is surging even though the nation’s incarceration rate declined for the third consecutive year.  KY now has the […]

After weeks of study and discussion, the CJPAC Kentucky Justice Reinvestment Work Group has released their final report.  It contains 22 data-driven policy recommendations aimed at improving public safety by holding offenders accountable and reducing recidivism. “Kentucky Smart on Crime Coalition was proud to have a seat on the CJPAC Justice Reinvestment Work Group.  Our […]

11/29/2017 Press Release from the Commonwealth of Kentucky Justice & Public Safety Cabinet The CJPAC Justice Reinvestment Work Group is projecting that, without significant legislative solutions, Kentucky’s inmate population will increase by 19 percent over the next ten years, overwhelming jails and prisons and burdening taxpayers with nearly $600 million in additional costs. Kentucky Justice […]

Learn if you are eligible for expungement and how to clear your record! Talk to an attorney about getting free legal services if you qualify. Will be held in the ballroom of Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) (300 North Main Street, Versailles KY 40383). Where Kentucky Community and Technical College System Address 300 […]