Contact:
Mara Powell
mpowell@kyyouth.org

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

LOUISVILLE, KY – A justice system that promotes accountability, considers primary caregiver status, and reserves incarceration for those who pose a risk to public safety can be a win-win-win for family well-being, community safety, and the state’s bottom line. Representative Nick Wilson’s House Bill 291 seeks to do just that by requiring courts to consider alternative sentencing options when an individual has committed a non-violent offense and is the primary caregiver to a dependent child.

Considered an Adverse Childhood Experience, parental incarceration impacts nearly one in 10 Kentucky kids – disrupting their living situation, education, mental health, and overall well-being now and often well beyond their childhood. Community-based alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenses – like community supervision, vocational training, mental health services, or outpatient substance use treatment – can keep kids out of foster care and safely with their parent and allow the parent to continue working and contributing to their community.

With the Bloom Kentucky initiative, we applaud the Kentucky House for unanimously supporting passage of HB 291 today and now call on the Senate to do the same by the final gavel in March. The shared sentence of incarceration impacts too many Kentucky kids – and this commonsense legislation will make a real difference in the outcomes of families across the Commonwealth.

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.

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About Kentucky Youth Advocates
Kentucky Youth Advocates believes all children deserve to be safe, healthy, and secure. As THE independent voice for Kentucky’s children, we work to ensure policymakers create investments and policies that are good for children. Learn more at www.kyyouth.org.