Aug 3 Politics State Officials Discuss Criminal Justice Reform Amid Incarceration Boom Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary John Tilley said the number of people in Kentucky’s prison system surpassed 25,000 for the first time this year. By Ryland Barton Aug 3 Politics State Officials Discuss Criminal Justice Reform Ryland Barton
Jul 6 Politics Kentucky Lawmakers Mull Changes To Death Penalty Kentucky has had a moratorium on the death penalty since 2010, but state prosecutors still pursue capital punishment in more than 50 cases every year. By Ryland Barton Jul 6 Politics Kentucky Lawmakers Mull Changes To Death Penalty Ryland Barton
Jun 19 Community A WFPL News Special: Why Do Black Youth Fare Worse In Kentucky’s Justice System? As juvenile detention center populations dwindle and fewer minor offenders are locked up, whites feel the benefit most. Youth lockups are becoming more black and brown. By Kate Howard Jun 19 Community A WFPL News Special: Black Youth Fare Worse In Ky.'s Justice System Kate Howard
Apr 11 Politics ACLU, Louisville Urban League Ask Lawmakers To Reject ‘Anti-Gang’ Bill ACLU of Kentucky, Louisville’s Urban League and the Louisville branch of the NAACP are asking Kentucky lawmakers to reject the bill, citing concerns of racial profiling. By Kyeland Jackson Apr 11 Politics Local Groups Ask State Lawmakers To Reject 'Anti-Gang' Bill Kyeland Jackson
Mar 30 Community ‘The Bail Project’ To Launch First Kentucky Site In Louisville The nonprofit Bail Project uses public donations to help bail out people who can’t afford it. The project has sites in St. Louis and Tulsa, Oklahoma. By Kyeland Jackson Mar 30 Community 'The Bail Project' To Launch First Kentucky Site In Louisville Kyeland Jackson
Mar 16 Politics Ky. Senate OKs Bill To Give Felons More Jail Time For Gun-Related Crimes Maj. William Hibbs, who commands LMPD’s Ninth Mobile Division, said his division is encountering more convicted felons with firearms. By Kyeland Jackson Mar 16 Politics Senate OKs Bill To Give Felons More Jail Time For Gun-Related Crimes Kyeland Jackson
Mar 5 Politics Advocates Say New Bill Could Slow Kentucky’s Growing Incarceration Rates House Bill 396, sponsored by Republican Representative Kimberly Poore Moser, would reclassify some non-violent drug offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. By Kyeland Jackson Mar 5 Politics Advocates: New Bill Could Slow Ky.’s Growing Incarceration Rates Kyeland Jackson
Feb 20 Investigations Despite Rule Change, Kentucky’s Patchwork Probation System Remains Enforcement of the new rules — and the system itself — remains inconsistent across the state, the report found By Eleanor Klibanoff Feb 20 Investigations Kentucky’s Patchwork Probation System Remains Despite Rule Change Eleanor Klibanoff
Jan 31 Politics Kentucky Official: State Prisons To Run Out Of Space By 2019 The state's prisons are full, with officials resorting to double-bunking inmates in rec rooms and any other space they can find. It's worse at county jails. By Adam Beam, Associated Press Jan 31 Politics Kentucky Official: State Prisons To Run Out Of Space By 2019 Adam Beam, Associated Press
Jan 4 Politics Attorney General Rescinds Obama-Era Marijuana Guidelines Jeff Sessions says the Justice Department won't take the same permissive line toward state marijuana laws, but the implications for states, users and vendors aren't clear. By Ryan Lucas, NPR Jan 4 Politics Attorney General Rescinds Obama-Era Marijuana Guidelines Ryan Lucas, NPR
Nov 16 Politics Kentucky Reopens Contract With Troubled Private Prison Company The new agreement comes nearly a decade after the state abandoned the organization amid allegations of sexual abuse and mismanagement of Kentucky inmates. By Ryland Barton Nov 16 Politics Kentucky Reopens Contract With Troubled Private Prison Company Ryland Barton
Nov 3 Community Former Regional Jail Supervisor Sentenced To Prison For Fatally Beating Inmate Damon Wayne Hickman was sentenced this week to 10 ½ years in federal prison for his role in the fatal 2013 beating of an inmate. By Brendan McCarthy Nov 3 Community Former Regional Jail Supervisor Sentenced For Fatally Beating Inmate Brendan McCarthy
Oct 4 Politics Lawmakers Consider Adding ‘Victims’ Bill Of Rights’ To State Constitution The measure would create several constitutional guarantees, including requiring courts notify victims or families when an offender is released from custody. By Ryland Barton Oct 4 Politics Kentucky Lawmakers To Consider 'Victims' Bill Of Rights' Ryland Barton
Sep 27 Investigations Private Probation System Still Largely Unregulated, Rife With Issues, Report Says The ACLU of KY is calling for an end to private probation arrangements in light of a new report that found widespread discrepancies in the state’s system. By Kate Howard Sep 27 Investigations Private Probation System Still Largely Unregulated, Report Says Kate Howard
Jul 11 Politics Kentucky Senate Leader Wants To Expand Felony Expungement Law Republican Sen. Jimmy Higdon wants to allow people convicted of selling small amounts of marijuana to apply to clear their record after 10 years. By Ryland Barton Jul 11 Politics Kentucky Senate Leader Wants To Expand Felony Expungement Law Ryland Barton