Incarceration Trends in

Kentucky

Incarceration in Local Jails and State Prisons

This fact sheet provides at-a-glance information about how many people are locked up in both state prisons and county jails and shows where the state stands on a variety of metrics, so that policymakers and the public can better determine where to target reforms.

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Key Facts

Since 1970, the total jail population has increased 740%.
The number of women in Kentucky’s jails has increased more than 44-fold, from 83 in 1970 to 3,727 in 2015.
Kentucky ranks first in the region in both jail and prison admissions, and has the highest prison population rate in the region.
Total Number of People in County Jails and State Prisons, 2015
Explore your state's use of local jails and state prisons.

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