Welcome

With close to 8,000 employees, the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet (JPSC) is the state entity responsible for criminal justice services.  These encompass 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"

State prison closed; facility converted to state police training academy

Governor Beshear announced in May 2011 that a now-unneeded state prison facility would close by the end of the fiscal year, and the complex converted into a desperately needed modern training facility for the Kentucky State Police (KSP).

The Department of Corrections immediately began the process of moving inmates from the 205-bed Frankfort Career Development Center, a minimum security state-run prison, to county jails, halfway houses and community supervision.

Once all inmates were moved, KSP took possession of the property and began utilizing it as a training academy, a project that has been at the top of the Justice Cabinet’s capital budget request list for years. 

“Thanks to strategic efforts and initiatives over the past 3 1/2 years, we’ve reversed Kentucky’s inmate population trend, going from first in the nation in the rate of our felon population growth, to a sustained drop in population of more than 1,600 inmates,” Gov. Beshear said.  “Added to that, the recent passage of HB 463 promises a continued downward impact on the inmate population.  The success of these initiatives provides, for the first time, the opportunity to close a minimum security facility, and take a 24-7 penal facility off line.”

For more information on the prison closure, click here.

Gov. Beshear signs landmark corrections reform bill

On March 3, 2011, Gov. Beshear signed into law a landmark justice reform bill designed to decrease the state’s prison population, reduce incarceration costs, reduce crime and increase public safety.

The bill modernizes Kentucky drug laws by reducing prison time for low-risk, non-violent drug offenders who possess small amounts of illegal drugs. It then reinvests the savings from the reduced prison costs into drug treatment opportunities for offenders who need help.

The law also strengthens probation and parole laws by basing key decisions on the risk posed by offenders and improving supervision, and links offenders to appropriate community resources.

HB 463 is estimated to save the Commonwealth $422 million over the next decade. The bill is the culmination of years of study and work to solve a complex problem: out-of-control corrections costs.

To read the full text of the bill, visit http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/11RS/HB463.htm

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

2008 Criminal Justice Reform - Report to the Governor
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.

2008 Initiatives
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.

• Kentucky Motorcycle Safety Education Commission to meet Feb. 13
  Friday, February 10, 2012
  The Kentucky Motorcycle Safety Education Commission will meet Feb. 13.
• Diana McGuire named acting deputy commissioner for Juvenile Justice
  Friday, February 10, 2012
  Justice and Public Safety Secretary J. Michael Brown recently announced that Diana McGuire has been appointed acting deputy commissioner of operations for the Department of Juvenile Justice.
• Justice & Public Safety Cabinet accepting applications for Law Enforcement Service Fee Grants
  Friday, February 03, 2012
  The Justice and Public Safety Cabinet is now accepting applications for the annual Law Enforcement Service Fee (LSF) grant program. Applications must be submitted on-line through the Cabinet’s electronic Grants Management System.