Frankfort, Ky. (March. 10, 2022)—Today, the Kentucky Smart on Crime Coalition released the following statement after the Senate Education Committee advanced SB 163, sponsored by Senator Brandon Storm, legislation aimed at removing barriers to educational attainment for Kentuckians who have a felony conviction. SB 163 eliminates a state requirement that prevents these individuals from eligibility for the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES), which provides opportunities to students who meet certain metrics related to high school GPA, SAT, ACT, and/or Advanced Placement classes.
“Kentucky is making progress reducing recidivism through data-backed reforms,” said Kate Shanks, VP of Public Affairs at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the Kentucky Smart on Crime coalition.
“Through reentry programs and expungement reforms, the Commonwealth’s recidivism rate went from 44.5 percent in 2015 to an improving but still troubling 35.4 percent. SB 163 is another tool for chipping away at this number.
Educational opportunity offers a proven pathway for ensuring formerly incarcerated Kentuckians do not reoffend. It helps lead to jobs− one of the best reentry programs of them all.
The number of second chance employers has grown in recent years and there are many companies standing ready to provide opportunities. SB 163 will improve our workforce participation rate
Kentucky lags rest of the country when it comes to individuals holding two-year and four-year degrees—the keys to unlocking higher paying careers. SB 163 can help bolster our standing.
It’s commonsense legislation and we applaud Senator Storm for his leadership.” Shanks continued.
About Kentucky Smart on Crime:
Kentucky Smart on Crime is a broad-based coalition working for common sense justice reforms that proactively address individual and systemic racial disparities and inequities, improve public health, enhance public safety, strengthen communities and promote cost-effective sentencing alternatives. Partner organizations include American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, Kentucky Council of Churches, Catholic Conference of Kentucky, Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc., Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Kentucky Youth Advocates, Volunteers of America Mid-States, Inc., NAACP Kentucky, Kentucky Criminal Justice Forum, and United Way of Kentucky. For more information, visit: kysmartoncrime.com or @kysmartoncrime on Twitter.
