Welcome

With close to 8,000 employees, the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet (JPSC) is the second largest agency in state government.

It is the state entity responsible for criminal justice services, which encompasses law enforcement activities and training; prevention, education and treatment of substance abuse; juvenile treatment and detention; adult incarceration; autopsies, death certifications and toxicology analyses; special investigations; paroling of eligible convicted felons; and long range planning and recommendations on statewide criminal justice reform issues.

As a national leader in criminal justice, the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet's vision is to continuously improve public safety and the quality of life.

"Protecting you through public service... Making your future safer and healthier"

In accordance with the Commonwealth's administrative regulation process, the Kentucky Department of Corrections held a public hearing on January 29, 2010 to receive comments on the proposed administrative regulations related to the department's execution protocol.   To view video from that hearing, click on the links below: (each link represents an approximately 45-minute segment of the hearing)

Hearing 1

Hearing 2

Hearing 3

Hearing 4

Click here for the Commissioner's Review of the Critical Incident Report on the Northpoint Training Center. (pdf 2286 KB)

In March 2008, Governor Beshear directed Secretary J. Michael Brown to conduct a comprehensive review of Kentucky’s criminal justice system, particularly as it relates to the prison population, and report back to him by December 1st his recommendations for reform. Working through the auspices of the Kentucky Criminal Justice Council, Secretary Brown established committees to look at various issues facing our system, including sentencing guidelines; substance abuse policies and laws; and penal code reform. To view the full report, click here.

Significant laws relating to Kentucky's criminal justice system were passed by the 2008 General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Steve Beshear, including initiatives to curb the rising costs of incarceration and improve the safety of law enforcement officers. 

• ‘Controlled movement’ led to inmate riot at Northpoint, report says
  Friday, November 20, 2009
  Inmates reacted to the implementation of restrictions in their movement at the Northpoint Training Center in August by setting fires in dorms, destroying property and busting out windows, causing one of the most destructive prison riots in Kentucky history, according to a report released today by the Department of Corrections.
• Governor’s Re-Entry Task Force to meet
  Wednesday, November 04, 2009
  The Governor’s Re-Entry Task Force, charged with developing recommendations for helping former inmates re-enter their communities and reducing the likelihood that they will reoffend, will meet this Thursday.
• Education, information on treatment, key components to combat prescription drug abuse, group says
  Wednesday, November 04, 2009
  A group of stakeholders in the prescription drug abuse epidemic say the creation of a call center staffed by trained counselors to handle inquiries about substance abuse, and a database updated weekly that matches available treatment to the needs of the abuser, would offer dramatic tools to combat Kentucky’s growing problem.