Family Rights and Advocacy in Kentucky

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Internal links (5): Kentucky inmate search, send money to Kentucky inmates, Kentucky reentry resources, Staying Connected hub, how prison works hub

Voice: Formerly-incarcerated narrator. Plain, direct, honest. Written to the family member on the outside.

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Family Rights and Advocacy in Kentucky | InmateAid

Kentucky contracts with **Securus Technologies** for phone calls, tablets, and electronic messaging in its state prisons. Securus has paid **$22.3 million in kickbacks (commissions)** to the state of Kentucky, according to documents obtained through the Open Records Act and reported by Prison Legal News in November 2024. Earlier reporting by Louisville Public Media found that Securus paid $3.2 million in commissions to Kentucky in 2020 alone -- the year in-person visits were suspended statewide due to COVID-19.

That financial context is not incidental. The commission structure -- in which Kentucky keeps a share of every dollar families pay to Securus for calls, messages, and tablets -- means the state has a financial incentive to keep Securus's rates as high as possible. The FCC rate caps (effective 2024-2026) have changed that calculus somewhat. But families in Kentucky have been paying into a system designed in part to generate state revenue since Securus took the contract.

The most recent and most significant change for Kentucky families: FCC rate caps on prison phone calls, fully implemented in 2024-2026. Verify current rates at the InmateAid Kentucky phone page.

Securus Customer Service: **1-800-844-6591**.

Kentucky incarcerates approximately 32,000 people across 14 state prisons and operates oversight of 84 county jails. The KDOC (Kentucky Department of Corrections) is headquartered in Frankfort and is part of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.

KDOC website: corrections.ky.gov.

What Families Are Facing in Kentucky

Kentucky is large enough and its prison system spread enough that geography is a real burden. Major KDOC facilities:

- **Kentucky State Penitentiary (KSP)** -- 266 Water St., Eddyville, Lyon County (western Kentucky; about 2 hours from Louisville; maximum security; death row)

- **Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex (EKCC)** -- West Liberty, Morgan County (eastern Kentucky mountains; about 2.5 hours from Lexington or Louisville)

- **Little Sandy Correctional Complex (LSCC)** -- Sandy Hook, Elliott County (eastern Kentucky mountains; remote)

- **Green River Correctional Complex (GRCC)** -- Central City, Muhlenberg County (western Kentucky)

- **Luther Luckett Correctional Complex (LLCC)** -- LaGrange, Oldham County (near Louisville)

- **Roederer Correctional Complex (RCC)** -- LaGrange, Oldham County; 502-222-0170

- **Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women (KCIW)** -- Pewee Valley, Oldham County (near Louisville); medium security; primary women's facility

- **Northpoint Training Center (NTC)** -- Burgin, Mercer County (central Kentucky)

KSP in Eddyville and LSCC in Sandy Hook are the most remote. Eastern Kentucky mountain facilities (EKCC, LSCC) are genuinely difficult to reach from western Kentucky or Louisville. For a family in Lexington visiting EKCC in West Liberty: 2.5 hours through mountain roads.

Kentucky also has **at least one private prison** (Otter Creek Correctional Center or successor private facility). If your loved one is in a private facility under KDOC contract, contact KDOC for accountability -- KDOC remains responsible for conditions.

On phone: Securus. Customer service: 1-800-844-6591. FCC rate caps apply. Post-cap rates are the most significant financial change for Kentucky families in years.

On tablets and messaging: Securus provides tablets with voice and email messaging as well as video visitation. The contract allows the state to keep up to 50% of revenue from these services. Families pay per message and per minute for video.

On mail: letters are inspected for contraband. Books and magazines must come directly from the publisher -- family members cannot purchase and mail publications. Physical letter mail still goes to facilities. Some county jails use Smart Communications for digital mail scanning; verify whether any KDOC state prison is currently using digital mail processing at corrections.ky.gov.

On money: JPay and/or Access Corrections for commissary deposits. Verify current options at corrections.ky.gov or the facility directly.

Your Rights as a Family Member in Kentucky

Visitation rights

KDOC visitation requires advance scheduling. Applications are available through the KDOC website or from the facility directly. Background checks are required. Visiting hours vary by facility and housing unit.

Physical contact during visits: typically limited to a brief hug or handshake at the beginning and end of the visit, depending on facility rules.

Books and magazines must come from the publisher directly -- family and friends cannot purchase and mail publications.

Visitation is subject to suspension for security or disciplinary reasons.

Communication rights

Your loved one must add your number to their approved call list. Set up a prepaid account with Securus at securustech.net or call 1-800-844-6591. Securus also provides electronic messaging and video calls through the tablet platform.

All calls are recorded except legal calls to attorneys.

Voicemail: Securus offers voicemail through Correctional Billing Services. Create and activate a private mailbox by contacting 1-800-844-6591.

Notification rights

KDOC is not required to notify family of transfers. Use the KDOC inmate search at corrections.ky.gov to track current location. KDOC notifies next of kin for serious medical emergencies and deaths -- make sure your loved one has designated you in their records.

Grievance rights

Internal KDOC grievances must be filed by the incarcerated person. Family members cannot file internal grievances.

External pathways for families:

- KDOC website: corrections.ky.gov for facility contact information

- Specific facility contacts (see below)

- ACLU of Kentucky: aclu-ky.org -- for civil rights violations

- Kentucky Equal Justice Center: kyequaljustice.org -- for legal advocacy

- Your Kentucky state legislators at legislature.ky.gov

KDOC Key Contacts

KDOC main: corrections.ky.gov

Commissioner: Cookie Crews, Frankfort, KY

Facility-specific contacts (call for visitation questions, emergency notification, general information):

- KSP (Eddyville): 270-388-2211

- EKCC (West Liberty): 606-743-2800

- KCIW (Pewee Valley): 502-241-8454 (Connie Rearden, email: Connie.Rearden@ky.gov)

- RCC (LaGrange): 502-222-0170

For all KDOC facility contacts: corrections.ky.gov.

Kentucky Advocacy Organizations

Kentucky Equal Justice Center

kyequaljustice.org

Lexington, KY

The Kentucky Equal Justice Center is a law firm and public interest advocacy organization dedicated to equal justice for all Kentuckians. They work with community partners across a range of issues including legal advocacy connected to the justice system. They are Lexington-based and active. For families who need legal advocacy or referrals in Kentucky, the Equal Justice Center is a primary contact.

ACLU of Kentucky

aclu-ky.org

325 W. Main Street, Suite 2210, Louisville, KY 40202

Phone: 502-581-9746

The ACLU of Kentucky handles civil rights cases including prisoner rights. Their Smart Justice Kentucky campaign focuses on reducing incarceration and ending racial disparities. Kentucky's prison population grew 41% between 2000 and 2016 while national rates dropped 7% -- the ACLU has documented these disparities extensively. They do not take individual grievance cases routinely. Contact them when the issue involves a pattern of rights violations, unconstitutional conditions, or retaliation.

Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM)

famm.org

National network including Kentucky families. Kentucky has persistent felony offender statutes and mandatory minimum provisions that FAMM advocates against. If your loved one is serving an excessive mandatory sentence, FAMM connects families to advocacy and each other.

Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC)

humanrightsdefensecenter.org

Phone (for family members): 561-360-2523

HRDC has documented and challenged Securus's kickback arrangements with state DOCs including Kentucky. The $22.3 million in documented commissions to Kentucky is the kind of arrangement HRDC fights nationally. If communications access is being restricted, costs are unreasonable, or publications are wrongfully blocked, HRDC is the contact. Family members can call directly.

Prisoner Rights Organizations Families Can Contact on Their Loved One's Behalf

ACLU of Kentucky

aclu-ky.org | 502-581-9746

Primary prisoner rights legal organization in Kentucky. For systemic conditions issues, documented abuse, unconstitutional conditions, or retaliation. Does not take individual grievance cases routinely.

Kentucky Equal Justice Center

kyequaljustice.org

Public interest law firm and advocacy organization. Can assist with legal matters related to incarceration, provide referrals, and engage on systemic justice issues.

Legal Aid of the Bluegrass

lablaw.org

Phone: 859-233-4643 (Lexington)

Covers northern Kentucky and the Lexington area. Free civil legal services for income-eligible Kentuckians.

Kentucky Legal Aid

klaid.org

Phone: 1-800-928-4556 (statewide)

Covers western and central Kentucky. Free civil legal services.

Department of Public Advocacy (DPA)

dpa.ky.gov

The DPA is Kentucky's public defender office. Primarily handles criminal defense, but the Alternative Sentencing Workers Program provides alternatives to incarceration for people with mental health and substance use issues. For post-conviction and sentencing-related issues, the DPA may be able to advise on appropriate legal contacts.

The Securus Context: What Families Should Know

Named here because it is documented and because it directly affects what Kentucky families pay.

Kentucky contracted with Securus for prison phone services. The contract structure historically allowed the state to keep a share of every dollar families paid for calls -- commissions documented at $3.2 million in 2020 and $22.3 million cumulative per Prison Legal News and Open Records Act documents. When in-person visits were suspended during COVID-19, communication costs went up and Securus's revenue -- and Kentucky's commissions -- increased.

The FCC rate caps implemented in 2024-2026 changed this structure significantly. Interstate prison call rates are now capped; in-state rates were also reduced. This is the most significant financial change for Kentucky families in years.

What this context means practically: the system has historically been set up to extract money from the families most desperate to maintain contact. The FCC caps are a correction, but they are not complete. Video calls, messaging, and tablet services still generate revenue under the commission structure. Worth Rises (worthrises.org) tracks Securus's contracts and practices nationally. If costs still feel unreasonable post-FCC caps, that is the organization documenting it.

How to File a Complaint on Your Loved One's Behalf

Step 1: Document everything specific

Date, facility, staff name if known, what happened. For financial issues: save billing statements, note overcharges with dates and amounts. Specific documentation is essential.

Step 2: Contact the facility

For most issues resolvable at the facility level: call the Warden's office. Facility contacts at corrections.ky.gov.

Step 3: KDOC central office

For issues not resolved at the facility level. Contact through corrections.ky.gov.

Step 4: Contact your Kentucky state legislators

State senator and state representative at legislature.ky.gov. For documented systemic issues -- kickback arrangements, rate structures, conditions of confinement -- legislators are an effective external lever.

Step 5: Contact advocacy organizations

ACLU of Kentucky (502-581-9746), Kentucky Equal Justice Center (kyequaljustice.org), or FAMM for guidance on whether the situation warrants legal intervention.

Step 6: Federal escalation

For civil rights violations: U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (justice.gov/crt). For federal facilities in Kentucky: BOP Southeast Region.

What families cannot compel: You cannot file an internal KDOC grievance for your loved one. You cannot override security or disciplinary decisions. External organizations can advocate and investigate but cannot guarantee outcomes.

Staying Connected: The Practical Guide for Kentucky Families

Phone

Securus Technologies is the KDOC phone vendor. Set up a prepaid account at securustech.net or call **1-800-844-6591**.

FCC rate caps apply to interstate calls. Verify current rates at the InmateAid Kentucky phone page.

Voicemail: create and activate through Correctional Billing Services at 1-800-844-6591.

All calls recorded except legal calls to attorneys.

Tablets and messaging

Securus provides tablets to KDOC state prisons with voice messaging, email messaging, and video visitation capabilities. Set up a Securus account at securustech.net. All messages reviewed and must be approved by the facility.

Mail

Physical mail to facility address. Books and magazines must come directly from the publisher -- family members cannot purchase and mail them.

Letters are opened and inspected for contraband. Confirm current mail policy and address for the specific facility at corrections.ky.gov.

Sending money

JPay and/or Access Corrections for commissary deposits. Verify current options through corrections.ky.gov or the InmateAid Kentucky send money page.

Visitation

Schedule in advance through KDOC website or facility. Background check required. Visiting hours vary by facility and housing unit. Brief physical contact (hug or handshake) at start and end of visit, depending on facility.

Locating your loved one

KDOC Inmate Search: corrections.ky.gov

InmateAid Kentucky inmate search: [internal link]

Supporting Yourself While Supporting Them

Kentucky families have been navigating a communication system that has extracted significant commissions from their bills. The FCC rate caps are a meaningful improvement. They are not a complete solution.

The ACLU of Kentucky (aclu-ky.org) is the most consistent external monitor of KDOC conditions. Their Smart Justice campaign has documented the scale of Kentucky's over-incarceration.

The Kentucky Equal Justice Center (kyequaljustice.org) is the legal advocacy contact for families who need help navigating rights issues or finding appropriate legal resources.

FAMM (famm.org) connects Kentucky families dealing with excessive mandatory sentences to advocacy networks and each other.

HRDC (561-360-2523) is the organization specifically fighting Securus's financial practices. If the post-cap rates or tablet/messaging fees feel wrong, call them.

Worth Rises (worthrises.org) documents and challenges prison telecom exploitation. Their tracking of Securus contracts is the most comprehensive available.

Dial **211** for community resource referrals in your Kentucky county.