KY DOC – Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women (KCIW)

KY DOC – Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women (KCIW) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 502-241-8454

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at KCIW located at 3000 Ash Ave in Pewee Valley, KY are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

KCIW houses adult female felons for the Commonwealth from all 120 counties in Kentucky. The institution first opened in 1938 and is located on 270 acres in Shelby County near the town of Pewee Valley. The institution is a campus-style setting with multiple housing units, double and single-bunked.

The Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women is considered a multi-custody facility as differential housing and programming must meet the needs of female offenders serving one year to life, death row, maximum, medium, minimum, community custody, first offenders, persistent offenders the disabled and special needs inmates.

Inmate Programs

EDUCATION CENTER – Educational opportunities are available to inmates ranging from basic literacy to college courses. Completion of the GED, a technical program or associate degree shall earn the inmate 90 days of Educational Good Time. Academic education is offered weekdays. An inmate who has not completed high school may earn a GED and receive a $100.00 award for earning her GED at the institution. If she is a high school graduate, she may brush up on her academic skills in order to qualify for a specific technical education program. Technical education opportunities are available to all qualified inmates. Vocational and college counselling is also available to ensure that an inmate is placed in the program best suited to her needs and abilities. The school offers one full-time vocational program during the day, Horticulture and one part-time evening vocational program, Microsoft Office Specialist. Jefferson Community & Technical College offers the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science.

COUNSELLING AND THERAPY GROUPS – The Division of Mental Health offers a myriad of individual and group counseling and therapy opportunities; the Division is developing programs to meet the needs of the severely mentally ill population.

SOTP – Sex Offender Treatment is a program that consists of individual and group counseling geared to provide tools that inmates can use for controlling their sexually assaultive behavior. Inmates apply and are screened for acceptance into the program that typically takes eighteen months to two years to complete. The program provides treatment for sex offenders to allow them to manage their deviant behavior and thoughts. Inmates who committed their crimes and who were convicted after July 15, 1998 are mandated by law to complete the program before they are eligible to meet the parole board. The Sex Offender Treatment Program is open to those inmates who meet the entry criteria.

Domestic Violence – Understanding is the key to breaking the cycle of domestic violence. This program is an eight-week program that is geared to helping domestic violence offenders learn how to stop using violence to control their relationships. They discover that destructive behaviors are connected to a pattern of thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. Learning to understand each of these, along with awareness of body responses, provides a valuable early warning. With reading assignments, writing assignments, group discussions, and videos, participants learn many effective alternatives and practical skills, which will give them the power to make new choices and create a different way of handling domestic situations.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SELF-HELP GROUP PROGRAMS

Substance Abuse Program – This is a voluntary six-month program designed to address substance abuse and behavior modification issues and teach inmates the tools to effectively combat their addiction. The program is approximately six to seven months in length. It is targeted toward inmates convicted of drug charges.

WILLOW – The WILLOW (Women Invested in Learning and Loving Ourselves Well) program is designed for women with co-occurring disorders. The program offers a full schedule of group therapy sessions that target issues like recovery from trauma and abuse, anger management, mental health wellness, grief work, addiction treatment and successful re-entry into the community. In addition to group therapy, each participant is seen individually on a monthly basis. Treatment programming also promotes self-esteem, and the overall empowerment of women. WILLOW programming utilizes various Evidence Based Practice (EBP) models for a minimum of six months in a modified therapeutic community format.

Challenges – Challenges is a six month program serving the severely mentally ill population. The most common disorders that are treated are Bipolar disorder, Major Depression disorder, Schizophrenia, Anxiety disorder, and Post Traumatic Stress disorder. Inmates who may be struggling with symptoms of their mental illness that are impeding in their daily functioning have the opportunity to learn ways of healthy coping in a structured environment. The goal is to help adjust successfully to life outside prison. A team of mental health professionals provide inmates with a variety of therapeutic interventions including individual counseling, group counseling, medication therapy, and recreational therapy, all within a social learning environment. They meet weekly with a Social Service Clinician and monthly with a Staff Psychologist. Together, they will develop a treatment plan that describes their individual goals. Group counseling is held daily with attendance and participation being required. Challenges is designed to help inmates develop realistic thinking, pro-social behaviors, and emotional regulation.

Moral Recognition Therapy – Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT) is a systematic, cognitive-behavioral, step-by-step treatment strategy designed to enhance self-image; promote growth of a positive, productive identity; and facilitate the development of higher stages of moral reasoning. The program takes approximately six months to complete, but there is no set time frame for the program, as the inmate must complete each of the twelve steps before moving on to the next. Some of the early steps are done in a group setting, with the group deciding if the inmate has successfully completed each step. There is a $25.00 fee to each inmate to cover the cost of the workbook used to record the twelve steps.

Seeking Safety – Seeking Safety is an educational group being offered by Northkey Community Care’s Female Reentry Case Managers. This group will target problems specifically related to PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and substance abuse.

visitation Info

KY DOC – Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women – Visitation

The Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women is proud to be a Tobacco-Free Environment.

All tobacco products and their use are strictly prohibited on our property.  Leave all tobacco, matches, and/or lighters in your vehicle, tobacco is considered contraband.

Inmates at the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women may receive visits at the following times:

•  Saturday – 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
•  Sunday – 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
•  Designated holidays – 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

To allow adequate time for the process of visitors and some time for visits, visitors shall arrive at the Institution no less than one-half hour before the end of visitation.

Bonding visits for children through age 3 may only be scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday with the exception of newborns.  An inmate may visit with her newborn upon her return from the hospital and may be scheduled for any day of the week.

All bonding visits shall be scheduled through the Bonding Coordinator.  The visits shall occur in the bonding room, Chapel or the regular visiting area.

Special visits include attorneys, ministers, social services or others with whom an inmate may need to conduct business.  Special visits may only be scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday.  All special visits shall be scheduled through the inmate’s Case Manager. * An Attorney shall show their Bar card.

All visitors, excluding approved volunteers, clergy, legal, social services or other special visitors, shall be documented on the inmate’s approved visitation list.  Approved visitors may include unlimited immediate family, three other adults and children of the immediate family.  Inmates may update their visitation lists twice each year during regular reclassification, and must provide addresses, Social Security Numbers and dates of birth of visitors.

VISITING RULES

1. Visits may include three adults and an unlimited number of children.
2. Visits with any group may be two hours in duration. Time starts when the inmate arrives.
3. All adult visitors shall be required to have proper picture identification and be on the inmates approved visiting list.
4. All visitors shall be subject to search.
5. Nothing may be received or sent out through visiting.
6. A visitor may bring in only the items listed below:
      One (1) picture Identification;
      Car keys (without keychains or electronic  door devices);
      $40.00 per person for vending machines;
      One (1) small, clear plastic change purse (no billfold);
      One (1) pair prescription eyeglasses;
      One (1) coat;
      Jewelry visitor is wearing;
      Necessary medication that shall be in an authorized container.

A Vistor with a baby may bring the following:

   Three (3) disposable diapers;
   One (1) small package of baby wipes;
   Two (2) clear plastic baby bottles or Sippy cups;
   One (1) pacifier;
   One (1) baby blanket.

Dress Code For Visitors – The following dress code shall be followed:

• No visitor, child (other than an infant) or adult shall be admitted with bare feet
• Underclothes shall be worn. A female visitor shall wear a bra and panties
• A dress and skirt shall be allowed to have no more than a 2-inch slit in the back only. A dress and skirt shall be no shorter than 4 inches above the knee. Wrap-around clothing shall not be allowed
• Low cut or provocative clothing shall not be allowed. Buttons shall be buttoned so that cleavage cannot be seen. Clothing made of sheer, transparent, net, or mesh material shall not be allowed
• A visitor shall not wear any garment which unduly exposes the shoulders, chest, back, stomach, midriff or underarms. Tank tops, string tops, muscle shirts, or halter tops shall not be allowed
• Shorts shall be no shorter than 4 inches above the knee
• Any minor, age 12 or older shall comply with the adult dress code
• Profane, vulgar, inflammatory, offensive, or obscene wording, design, or insignias on any article of clothing shall not be allowed.