Kentucky State Prisons
13 facilities- KDOC - Bell County Forestry Camp (BCFC)
- KDOC - Blackburn Correctional Complex (BCC)
- KDOC - Eastern KY Correctional Complex (EKCC)
- KDOC - Green River Correctional Complex (GRCC)
- KDOC - Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women (KCIW)
Federal Facilities in Kentucky
5 facilitiesKentucky County Jails
68 facilities- Allen County KY Detention Center
- Ballard County Detention Center
- Barren County Detention Center
- Bell County KY Detention Center
- Boone County KY Jail (ICE)
Kentucky Department of Corrections
Kentucky DOC offender search allows searches by KY DOC number or name. Kentucky has one of the higher incarceration rates in the country relative to its population. The state has a significant federal presence, including the famous Federal Medical Center at Lexington.
The official inmate search is available at corrections.ky.gov/offendersearch. FMC Lexington is a federal medical center specializing in medical and mental health care for federal inmates nationwide.
Visitation in Kentucky Facilities
Kentucky DOC visitor approval requires a visitor application. Processing takes 2 - 4 weeks. Background checks for adult visitors. Dress code enforced.
Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our Kentucky prison directory.
Sending Mail to Kentucky Inmates
Kentucky DOC mail requires the KY DOC number. Standard 4x6 photos accepted. Some Kentucky facilities have transitioned to electronic mail processing - verify current policy for your specific facility.
InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to Kentucky facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.
Phone Calls from Kentucky Facilities
Kentucky is not currently among the states that offer free inmate phone calls. Securus Technologies holds the Kentucky DOC contract.
Following the FCC's Martha Wright-Reed Order (effective April 6, 2026), per-minute rates for inmate calls are now federally capped at state and federal facilities. Find current carrier and rate information on each facility's page in our Kentucky prison directory.
Sending Money to Kentucky Inmates
Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for Kentucky:
- JPay (primary for Kentucky DOC)
- Money orders mailed to facility
- Lobby kiosks at some facilities
See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.
Reentry Resources in Kentucky
Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in Kentucky:
- Kentucky DOC Reentry - Official reentry programs
- Kentucky Legal Aid - Free civil legal help statewide
- ReEntry Reintegration Initiative - Reentry services in Lexington area
- Louisville Urban League ReEntry - Reentry employment services in Louisville
Frequently Asked Questions About Kentucky Prisons
What is Kentucky State Penitentiary?
Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville opened in 1884 and is the oldest operating state prison in Kentucky. Built of stone overlooking Lake Barkley and the Cumberland River in Lyon County, it is sometimes called The Castle on the Cumberland for its fortress-like architecture. KSP is Kentucky's only maximum-security facility and houses the state's death row. The remote location - about 90 miles northwest of Nashville and 100 miles southwest of Bowling Green - makes visitation a significant undertaking for most Kentucky families. Visiting is more restrictive than at medium-security facilities, with non-contact visits for death row and some segregation classifications. Call KSP at 270-388-2211 to confirm visiting procedures and current hours before making the trip.
What is the KY DOC number?
The KY DOC number is the unique identification number assigned by the Kentucky Department of Corrections to every person sentenced to Kentucky state prison. It must appear on the outside of every envelope you mail to a Kentucky DOC facility - without it, mail is delayed or returned. Find your inmate's KY DOC number through the Kentucky DOC Offender Search at corrections.ky.gov - search by name and the number appears in results with current facility and status information. The number also appears on all DOC paperwork and court commitment documents. If you've lost it and can't find it online, call the facility directly with your inmate's full legal name and date of birth - staff can look it up.
Does Kentucky have free prison phone calls?
No - Kentucky has not eliminated phone call fees for state inmates. Securus Technologies holds the Kentucky DOC contract for most facilities. The FCC's April 2026 rate caps reduced per-minute rates at state and federal facilities, but calls in Kentucky are still charged per minute. Kentucky's correctional system serves a state with significant poverty, and the cost of prison phone calls has been particularly burdensome for Kentucky families. Multiple advocacy organizations have pushed for state-level legislation eliminating fees, but as of 2026 it has not passed. County jail phone rates vary by county and provider. If phone costs are a barrier, JPay electronic messaging and written mail are the most cost-effective alternatives for regular contact.
What is FMC Lexington?
The Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky is a federal Bureau of Prisons facility that provides specialized medical and psychiatric care to federal inmates from across the country who require treatment beyond what a standard BOP facility can provide. If your federal inmate has been transferred to FMC Lexington, it means BOP determined their medical or mental health needs require the specialized resources there - it is not a punitive transfer. Visiting at FMC Lexington follows the general BOP visitor registration process, but specific visiting arrangements may be affected by your inmate's medical situation. Contact FMC Lexington at 859-255-6812 for current visiting information and to understand any specific conditions that apply to your family member's situation.
How do I find someone in a Kentucky county jail?
Kentucky has 120 counties, each with its own jail managed by the county jailer - a separately elected official from the sheriff in most Kentucky counties. Contact the county jail directly - phone numbers are through the county government website or the Kentucky Jailers Association directory at kyja.net. Most Kentucky county jails confirm custody status by phone and many have online inmate rosters. The Kentucky DOC Offender Search at corrections.ky.gov covers only sentenced state prison inmates and will not show county jail detainees. If you're not sure which county the arrest occurred in, the Kentucky Court of Justice case search at kycourts.gov can help identify the jurisdiction.
What is the difference between a 'training center' and a 'correctional complex' in Kentucky?
Kentucky DOC facility names don't clearly indicate security level. Training centers - like Northpoint Training Center - typically emphasize programming, vocational training, and educational opportunities, but still house sentenced inmates under correctional supervision. Correctional complexes like Luther Luckett are generally larger facilities that may house multiple security levels. The security level classification of your inmate's specific housing unit matters more than the facility name when it comes to visiting rules, programming access, and general conditions. Always check the specific unit classification in the DOC offender search results - that tells you more about actual conditions and applicable rules than the facility's name alone.