Kentucky Prison & Jail Facilities
Kentucky has 412 correctional facilities, including state prisons, county jails, federal facilities, and reentry centers. Browse the full list from the facility table below, or use the search box to find a specific prison by name.
Kentucky has an imprisonment rate of 414 per 100,000 people. A total of 44,742 people are currently incarcerated in Kentucky, with 55,460 on probation and 14,429 on parole. View recent arrests in Kentucky or search the US inmate locator for individual records.
Kentucky Prison & Jail System Overview
Kentucky operates 162 correctional facilities under the state Department of Corrections. These facilities include state prisons, county jails, reentry centers, and probation offices. The state also hosts 10 federal facilities operated by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
The state has 72 regional and city jails, which serve as pre-trial detention centers for individuals awaiting arraignment, bail hearings, or transfer to a state institution.
Kentucky operates 6 reentry and transitional facilities — also known as halfway houses or residential reentry centers — that provide supervised housing and services to individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community.
An additional 162 facilities in Kentucky serve administrative, probation, or specialized supervision roles.
Searching for Inmates in Kentucky
The Kentucky Department of Justice maintains a public offender search tool at their official state inmate locator. You can search by the person's full name, inmate ID number, or register number. The tool typically returns results including the inmate's name, current facility, gender, race, offense, and projected release date.
For a comprehensive search that covers all facilities and includes inmates who may have transferred across state lines, use our nationwide inmate locator, which covers 2.65 million+ federal inmate records. You can also run a full background check that searches across court records, arrest records, and public data from all 50 states.
Kentucky directory snapshot
Visual breakdown of facilities in this listing—how they roll up into broad categories (derived from security-level labels), plus the most common security classifications recorded in our database for Kentucky.
Facility mix
412 facilities classified from security-level tags (same rules as the table below).
Segment width scales with the number of facilities in each category.
Top security classifications
Counts are distinct Security_Level values in Kentucky.
Prison Population in Kentucky by Incarceration Status
The chart and table below show the distribution of the Kentucky correctional population by supervision status. 44,742 people are currently incarcerated, with 55,460 on probation and 14,429 on parole.
| Supervision Status | Population |
|---|---|
| Probation | 55,460 |
| Parole | 14,429 |
| Life Sentence | 1,339 |
| Total Incarcerated | 44,742 |
Prison Population by Gender in Kentucky
The incarcerated population in Kentucky is predominantly male. 16,528 male and 2,024 female individuals are currently incarcerated. Female incarceration has grown significantly over the past three decades, driven largely by drug-related offenses and mandatory minimum sentencing.
| Gender | Population |
|---|---|
| Male | 16,528 |
| Female | 2,024 |
How to Use the Kentucky Prison Search Tool
Finding a prison facility in Kentucky is easy with AllJailSearch.us. We have 412 facilities listed in Kentucky. Use the search box at the top of the page to find any prison by name, or browse the complete facility table below.
Each facility page provides the following information:
- Visiting Hours — Scheduled days and times for in-person visits
- Visitation Rules — Dress code, ID requirements, and prohibited items
- Phone Number — Direct line to facility administration
- Email & Fax — For correspondence and document submission
- Physical Address — With a driving directions map
- Inmate Locator — Search inmates currently held at the facility
- Send Money Instructions — State-approved methods for commissary deposits
- Phone Call Setup — Carrier information and account setup instructions
How to Contact, Visit, and Send Money to an Inmate in Kentucky
Visiting an inmate in Kentucky requires advance approval. You must be added to the inmate's approved visitor list before arriving at any facility. Most facilities allow one or two visits per week during scheduled visiting hours.
- Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID on every visit. A driver's license, state ID, or passport is accepted at most facilities.
- Review the facility's dress code before arriving. No revealing clothing, no gang-affiliated colors, and no clothing resembling inmate uniforms are permitted.
- Arrive on time — late arrivals are often turned away. Some facilities require check-in up to 30 minutes before the visit begins.
- Book your visit in advance — walk-in visits are not permitted at most state prisons. Contact the facility directly to schedule.
- Respect facility staff and rules — any violation may result in immediate termination of the visit and possible loss of future visiting privileges.
- Complete the visitor application if you have not visited before. Download the Kentucky visitor application.
Read our complete guide to visiting an inmate in prison before your first visit.
Sending Money to an Inmate in Kentucky
The Kentucky Department of Corrections allows family members and friends to deposit money into an inmate's commissary trust account. Inmates use these funds to purchase hygiene products, food, phone credits, and other approved items from the facility store. Use the following approved methods to send money to an inmate in Kentucky:
Kentucky inmates maintain a commissary trust account to purchase approved items from the facility store. The Kentucky Department of Corrections accepts deposits through JPay, Western Union, and money order by mail.
Method 1 — JPay (Online & Mobile, Recommended)
- Visit JPay.com or download the app: Android iOS
- Search for your inmate by Kentucky DOC number or name and submit your deposit.
- Funds post within 24–48 hours on business days.
Method 2 — JPay Phone
- Call JPay at 1-800-574-5729 (24/7) to make a deposit by phone.
Method 3 — MoneyGram
- Visit any MoneyGram location or go to moneygram.com.
- Kentucky DOC MoneyGram Receive Code: 1232
- Provide the inmate's full name, DOC number, and facility.
Method 4 — Western Union
- Visit any Western Union location or westernunion.com.
- Select "Quick Collect" and use:
- Pay to: The specific facility name (e.g., Bell County Forestry Camp)
- Code City and State: BELL COUNTY / KY
- Account Number: Inmate name and inmate ID number combined
- Service fees apply at Western Union locations.
Method 5 — Money Order by Mail (USPS Only)
- Make the money order payable to the inmate's full name and include the DOC number on the memo line.
- Mail directly to the facility's Business Office (contact the specific facility for the mailing address).
- Processing time: 5–10 business days after receipt.
Information Required
- Inmate's full committed name
- Kentucky DOC inmate number
- Facility name
Read our full inmate money guide for step-by-step Kentucky instructions.
Read our full guide to sending money to an inmate for step-by-step instructions on every method.
Calling an Inmate in Kentucky
Phone calls from Kentucky correctional facilities are managed through the facility's approved phone carrier. Inmates can only make outgoing collect calls — they cannot receive incoming calls. You must set up a prepaid account with the carrier before any calls can be placed. All calls are recorded and subject to monitoring. Read our inmate phone call setup guide for full instructions.
Types of Prisons & Jails in Kentucky
The 412 facilities in Kentucky span a wide range of security levels and facility types — from minimum-security federal camps to maximum-security state penitentiaries. The table below shows the breakdown by facility type and security classification.
Complete List of Kentucky Prison & Jail Facilities
This is the complete list of Kentucky correctional facilities. Results are paginated at 20 per page. Select any facility name to view its full profile, including visiting hours, inmate locator, phone number, address, and driving directions.
Browse Prisons by County in Kentucky
Kentucky has 121 counties with correctional facilities. Select a county below to view recent arrests and facility information for that area.
Helpful Guides for Inmates & Families
Whether you are looking for an inmate, planning a visit, or trying to support a loved one through incarceration, our guides cover every step of the process.
- How to Call an Inmate — Set up a prepaid account and make your first call.
- How to Send Money to an Inmate — Approved deposit methods for every state.
- Complete Visitation Guide — Rules, dress code, and what to expect.
- How to Get Bail — Understanding bail bonds and the pre-trial release process.
- How to Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer — What to look for and how to find representation.
- Financial Help for Prisoner Families — Government benefits, nonprofits, and emergency aid.
- Life After Prison — Reentry Guide — Employment, housing, and reintegration resources.