Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women

The Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women (KCIW) is a state prison for adult female inmates, and it 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. It has been ACA accredited since 1982. 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.

The mission of the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women is to provide humane program and service opportunities for female offenders that will enhance their community re-integration and economic self-sufficiency; and that will be administered in a just and equitable manner within the least restrictive environment, with public, staff, and inmate safety.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Inmates at KCIW may receive visits at the following times:

• Saturday - 8:30am to 3:00pm
• Sunday - 8:30am to 3:00pm
• Designated Holidays - 8:30am to 3:00pm

To allow adequate time for process of visitors and some time for visits, visitors must arrive at the Institution no later than 2:30 p.m.

Bonding Visits

Inmates are allowed to participate in a special visit programs that are designed to foster relationships with their newborns and/or children. Mothers of newborns and young babies (birth to age 3) may have two bonding visits each week for a maximum of two hours each time, except on Saturday and Sunday. Visits must be scheduled five days in advance.

Visitors must be on the inmates approved visiting list.

Bonding visits for children from newborn through age 3 may only be scheduled between 8:00am and 4:00pm, 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 must be scheduled through the Bonding Coordinator. The visits will occur in the bonding room, Chapel, or the regular visiting area.

General Rules

All visitors must be on the inmate's approved visitation list. Approved visitors may include unlimited immediate family, three other adults, and children of the immediate family.

Visits may include three adults and an unlimited number of children and can last up to two hours. Time starts when the inmate arrives.

Dress Code

The following dress code must be followed:

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

What can you bring to a visit?

A visitor may bring in only the items listed below:

• Photo Identification
• Car keys (without keychain or electronic door devices)
• $40.00 per person for vending machines
• One small, clear plastic change purse (no billfold)
• One pair prescription eyeglasses
• One coat
• Jewelry visitor is wearing
• Necessary medication that shall be in an authorized container

A Visitor with a baby may bring the following

• Three disposable diapers
• One small package of baby wipes
• Two clear, plastic baby bottles or sippy cups
• One pacifier
• One baby blanket

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All incoming mail must be sent via the US Postal Service and is subject to be inspected or read to determine if contraband is enclosed or any rule violation has occurred.

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

With JPay you can send money to KYDOC inmates, and next-day deposits are as low as $2.75.

• Online at JPay.com to send money in minutes with your credit or debit card.
• JPay Mobile App allows you to send money anytime, anywhere by downloading the free app for iPhone or Android.
• Call 800-574-5729 to speak with a live JPay agent, 24/7.
• Send cash with MoneyGram at walk-in locations including CVS and Walmart (receive code 1232).

​Programs For ​Inmates

EDUCATION CENTER

Educational opportunities are available to inmates ranging from basic literacy to college courses. Completion of the GED, a technical program, or associates degree can earn the inmate 90 days of Educational Good Time. 

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.

COUNSELING 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. 

Challenges is designed to help inmates develop realistic thinking, prosocial 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; facilitate the development of higher stages of moral reasoning. 

The program takes approximately six months to complete, but there is no set time frame to 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.

Anger Management

Anger Management is a cognitive-skill program that promotes growth and positive change in their mood development. The program takes approximately six months to complete, but there is no set time frame, as the inmate must complete each of her steps.

Pathfinders

The pathfinders program provides a cognitive-skills program that involves team building, problem solving, life management, communication, and stress management. It is a four-month program and is available to all inmates.

Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous

These programs are based on the twelve-step principles to promote personal recovery from alcohol and/or drugs and to prevent relapse. The program is open to any inmate, but specifically geared toward those with alcohol and/or drug addictions whose lives have become powerless due to alcoholism or addiction.

Parenting

Parenting classes increase student awareness, concerning children and human relations. These classes teach alternative discipline techniques as well as provide growth and development information. In addition to gaining information and knowledge about acquiring the skills to become better parents, many students are “re-parented.”

In 2 Work

This program is designed to provide hands-on training that consists of three phases – kitchen basics, retail basics, and servsafe certification, which is highly regarded in the food service industry. The program is available to inmates assigned to the food service area and those closest to their release date. Basic reading and writing skills are taught.

Paws With Purpose

This program trains service dogs to help individuals with disabilities. The inmate trainers help Paws with Purpose train four different types of dogs. Service dogs are trained to help individuals with limited mobility, signal dogs are partnered with individuals with hearing impairments, facility dogs are trained to work in professional facilities such as nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, and assisted-service dogs are trained to help children and adults with disabilities.

Kids Day

This program is open to children ages three through twelve years of age once every three months. The children are separated into age-appropriate groups: ages 3-5, ages 6-9, and ages 10-12. Recreational staff plan and coordinate activities to include: games, reading, arts & crafts, and recreation. Each child is provided two pictures and a gift.

RECREATION

Inmates may participate in a variety of indoor and outdoor recreation activities and programs. These activities include, but are not limited to: movies, individual video workout, pool, tennis, video games, and team sports (i.e. volleyball and pickleball). Recreation also oversees arts and crafts projects and the purchase of musical instruments.

RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS

A variety of religious activities is available including Mass, Sunday Services, and Bible Study. Numerous community religious groups come to the institution throughout the year to provide additional services.

Pictures of Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women

Careers at Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women