(1) The Department of Corrections shall:
(a) Promulgate administrative regulations for the government and discipline of the penitentiary, for the government and official conduct of all officials connected with the penitentiary, and for the government of the prisoners in their deportment and conduct;

Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 197.020

  • Department: means Department of Corrections. See Kentucky Statutes 197.010
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes territories, outlying possessions, and the District of Columbia. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Treatment: when used in a criminal justice context, means targeted interventions
    that focus on criminal risk factors in order to reduce the likelihood of criminal behavior. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • validated risk and needs assessment: means an actuarial tool scientifically proven to determine a person's risk to reoffend and criminal risk factors, that when properly addressed, can reduce that person's likelihood of committing future criminal behavior. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010

(b) Promulgate administrative regulations for the character of food and diet of the prisoners; the preservation of the health of the prisoners; the daily cleansing of the penitentiary; the cleanliness of the persons of the prisoners; the general sanitary government of the penitentiary and prisoners; the character of the labor; the quantity of food and clothing; and the length of time during which the prisoners shall be employed daily;
(c) Promulgate administrative regulations, as the department deems necessary, for the disposition of abandoned, lost, or confiscated property of prisoners;
(d) Promulgate administrative regulations for the administration of a validated risk and needs assessment to assess the criminal risk factors and correctional needs of all inmates upon commitment to the department;
(e) Promulgate administrative regulations to:
1. Create a certification process for county jails that may house female state inmates. The administrative regulations shall include a requirement of a physical barrier between male and female inmates; and
2. Require telehealth services in county jails; and
(f) Cause the administrative regulations promulgated by the department, together with the law allowing commutation of time to prisoners for good conduct, to be printed and posted in conspicuous places in the cell houses and workshops.
(2) The department may impose a reasonable fee for the use of medical facilities by a prisoner who has the ability to pay for the medical and dental care. These funds may be deducted from the prisoner’s inmate account. A prisoner shall not be denied medical or dental treatment because he or she has insufficient funds in his or her inmate account.
(3) The department may promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to implement a program that provides for reimbursement of telehealth consultations.
(4) Fees for the use of medical facilities by a state prisoner who is confined in a jail pursuant to KRS § 532.100 or other statute shall be governed by KRS § 441.045.
Effective: July 14, 2022
History: Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 230, sec. 12, effective July 14, 2022. — Amended
2020 Ky. Acts ch. 109, sec. 4, effective April 24, 2020. — Amended 2018 Ky. Acts ch. 115, sec. 3, effective July 14, 2018. — Amended 2011 Ky. Acts ch. 2, sec. 27, effective June 8, 2011. — Amended 2010 Ky. Acts ch. 8, sec. 2, effective July 15,
2010. — Amended 2007 Ky. Acts ch. 85, sec. 231, effective June 26, 2007. — Amended 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 376, sec. 23, effective July 14, 2000. — Amended 1998
Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 3, effective July 15, 1998. — Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 211, sec. 44, effective July 14, 1992; and ch. 445, sec. 5, effective July 14, 1992. — Amended 1982 Ky. Acts ch. 344, sec. 21, effective July 15, 1982. — Amended 1974
Ky. Acts ch. 74, Art. V, sec. 24(14). — Amended 1966 Ky. Acts ch. 255 sec. 188. — Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 216c-4.
Legislative Research Commission Note (7/14/2018). Pursuant to 2018 Ky. Acts ch.
115, sec. 12, that Act shall be known as the Women’s Dignity in the Justice System
Act. This statute was amended in Section 3 of that Act.