Email the Governor
We agree with the head of Kentucky's Department of Public Advocacy that Kentuckians who are incarcerated simply because they cannot afford bail should be released immediately.
This will protect the health of incarcerated people, corrections employees, and the greater Commonwealth. None of these people have been convicted of a crime and they are all presumed to be innocent.
The Kentucky Supreme Court ordered all state courts to cancel non-emergency hearings until April 10, 2020, due to Covid-19. Thousands of Kentuckians are in jails and prisons waiting for their cases to go through the system simply because they cannot afford to pay bail. No person should ever have to buy their freedom, especially during a public health emergency.
These new court delays will force these Kentuckians to remain incarcerated for several additional weeks because they cannot afford to purchase their freedom. People who are incarcerated are unable to practice social-distancing and other health safety measures. They will also be separated from their families and jobs, just as most Kentucky kids are preparing to have their schools closed.
TAKE ACTION:
- Ask the Governor to recommend local judges and prosecutors release all people who are incarcerated simply because they cannot pay bail: Click-to-call
- Ask your local judges and prosecutors to release all people who are incarcerated simply because they cannot pay bail.
OTHER RESOURCES:
We will continue to update this section with information about changes made in Kentucky jails and prisons as a result of Covid-19. Get the most up to date information about Covid-19 from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services here.
- Updates as of March 13, 5:17PM
- Kentucky Department of Corrections has suspended visitation at all prisons until further notice.
- State courts have been asked to cancel all non-emergency hearings until April 10, 2020.
- People in jail or prison will be allowed one free call per week.
- Department of Corrections officials are reviewing social media policies.
- Anyone with visitation questions can call the Inspector General's Office at 502-564-2888
