Contact:
Mara Powell
502-895-8167 *122
mpowell@kyyouth.org

Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates

When you think about the justice system in the Commonwealth, you must also think about the shared sentence of incarceration on our children. After all, three of five inmates in Kentucky have children, including 71% of women in state custody. Senate Bill 133, championed by Senator Julie Raque Adams and passed today by the Kentucky Senate, takes strong steps to improve outcomes of pregnant inmates and their babies.

We applaud the Kentucky Senate for passing this important measure to improve conditions of pregnant inmates and their babies by limiting shackling during labor and childbirth and by releasing pregnant women to substance abuse treatment. We thank SB 133 sponsor Senator Julie Raque Adams and co-sponsors Senator Whitney Westerfield and Senator Alice Forgy Kerr for their commitment to making strides in reforming Kentucky’s criminal justice system with the best outcomes of kids and families in mind. Thousands of Kentucky kids will win when this measure becomes a reality.

Stay up-to-date on Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children priorities and other bills that are good for kids on our Kentucky General Assembly Bill Tracker.