Kentucky prisons expected to be out of space in 2019, one county working on solution

MADISON COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ)- In just over a year, Kentucky’s prisons could be out of space. Justice Cabinet Secretary John Tilley says state prisons are already full, but by May 2019 the state might have to release thousands of inmates classified as non-violent.

County jails, which house some of the state’s prisoners, have it even worse. Madison county is working on a solution.

From his office inside the detention center, Jailer Doug Thomas can monitor inmates.

“It’s not a pretty sight…we cannot operate like this,” he said.

What he sees is sometimes hard to believe.

For years, he says, the jail has been overcrowded. It’s made to fit 184 beds. On Wednesday, it housed 375 people.

“It doesn’t look good and I mean, I don’t like it, again, it’s tough for all of us here,” Thomas said.

Thomas’ security cameras show people sleeping on mats on the floor. The Jailer says it could be dangerous.

“The inmates, none of them say, ‘I’m sorry for stepping on you.’ You want to fight it out? Whatever be the case, it just makes it a lot more stressful on everybody: the inmates, officers, everybody,” Thomas said.

Judge/Executive Reagan Taylor says county growth, but mostly the opioid epidemic is to blame. He says 80% of inmates are behind bars for drug related crimes. 75% of them end up back behind bars after they’re released.

“Why would we want to invest into something that really truly isn’t working?” Taylor said.

He says his team has been working on a county-wide solution. He wants to expand the jail, but only if he can build a healing center to complement it, and offset overcrowding.

“Let’s come up with a solutions oriented program that compromises a bit with the jail with the court system to put a program model together that maybe would really help people, get them on a good path,” Taylor said.

It is in the early stages, but the Judge/Executive says the center would operate in phases: rehab, life skills, and vocational training, leaving the jail emptier permanently.

The Governor has called for changes to the state’s criminal code that would make it harder to be convicted of a felony. Some say that would reduce overcrowding, but it’s up to legislators to approve.