Kentucky Department of Corrections reports population, re-entry gains and facility projects; confirms arrests after four deaths

Commissioner Cookie Cruz and senior officials from the Kentucky Department of Corrections briefed the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary on population counts, re-entry initiatives, contraband controls and major capital projects.

"The department oversees approximately 20,000 incarcerated individuals with approximately 60% housed in one of our state facilities," Commissioner Cookie Cruz said, and the department singled out re-entry education and training programs as a priority. Director Kristen Porter said DOC launched new vocational programs and re-entry centers and is implementing a re-entry campus at North Point Training Center in Bergen near Danville that will serve up to 400 inmates a year.

Population and costs: Director Kieran Fannon reported a system total of 19,763 inmates and said about 12,000 are in state prisons. He gave daily incarceration cost for FY2025 as $122.84 per inmate — an annualized figure of $44,836 per inmate — and reported the probation and parole population as just over 59,000.

Contraband and safety: Deputy Commissioner Scott Jordan described measures to prevent contraband — body scanners, X-ray belts, clear-bag policies and fresh searches — and said the department works with law enforcement to prosecute staff or visitors who attempt to smuggle contraband. When members pressed about four deaths at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex, DOC said the homicides remain under investigation but that "all the homicides have resulted in an arrest." The department otherwise declined to comment on ongoing prosecutions.

Facility projects and capacity: Jordan reviewed capital projects funded in recent budgets: Little Sandy Correctional Complex phase B (an $111 million expansion adding 832 beds), a $256 million replacement medical facility at the Kentucky State Reformatory (353 beds, near completion), and a $165 million building-envelope and HVAC project for the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex with construction expected to start in September 2026 and run about 48 months.

Staffing and screening: Members asked whether DOC performs prehire psychological testing for corrections staff. Commissioner Cruz said the department does not require prehire psychological evaluations but maintains employee assistance and on-staff therapist services and that alleged misconduct involves a very small share of staff. DOC noted four employees who brought contraband to an entrance were arrested and prosecuted and seven others were terminated for attempted schemes.

Technology and contraband trends: Members urged pilot projects to detect contraband drones and cell phones; DOC said it would consider technology pilots and reiterated contraband is a growing, cross-state problem that requires layered defenses.

What’s next: Committee members requested additional facility-level breakdowns (including geriatric and nursing populations) and DOC agreed to provide more detailed counts and documentation for staff and legislators who requested it.