Rural KY counties increasing jail capacity, data show
New data shows incarceration has ballooned in Kentucky’s rural counties, and less populated regions are building more jails.
The findings come from an analysis of jail-offenses data by the nonprofit Prison Policy Initiative.
Wanda Bertram, a communications strategist for the organization, said small towns and counties pour a huge amount of public resources into arrests for minor offenses. She added that those same counties are doubling down on policing and prosecution policies.
“Incarceration is a costly business,” she said. “It is extremely destabilizing for people who go to jail, and it may or may not actually do anything to improve public safety.”
Across the country, Bertram said, most counties see jails as a place to hold people charged with low-level offenses or misdemeanors.
“Two thirds of people are being held on charges that did not involve physical violence against another person,” she said.
According to federal data from 2023, 20% of people in jails were held for misdemeanors. According to the Jail Data Initiative, the actual number of people in jails that year for non-violent offenses is closer to 35%.
get more stories like this via email
Public News Service is an independent, member-supported news organization providing "news in the public interest" through a network of independent state newswires. Our journalists report on a broad spectrum of public interest topics with the goal of promoting an informed citizenry to support vibrant, equitable, and participatory communities – ultimately leading to a healthier democracy.
