Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 67B — Metropolitan Correctional Services Department

Title IX — Counties, Cities, and Other Local Units

Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session.

The KRS database was last updated on 2026-08-30.

Title IX Counties, Cities, and Other Local Units

Chapter 67B Metropolitan Correctional Services Department

67B.010 Authority to create metropolitan correctional services departments.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky determines as a legislative finding of fact that the needs of large urban areas in the field of detention, institutionalization, and rehabilitation of offenders and public wards are more specialized, acute, and distinct than the needs of smaller communities, and require programs peculiarly suited to the needs of large, urban areas, and that in order to protect, enhance, and maintain the public safety, health, and general welfare, it is necessary that consolidated local governments or fiscal courts of counties containing a city of the first class where the constitutional offices of sheriff and jailer have been consolidated, be empowered to create metropolitan correctional services departments which shall be divisions of the consolidated local or county government, and which will be vested with the duty, responsibility, and power to maintain and operate all of the correctional, detention, and rehabilitative facilities of such counties in a professional and competent manner.

Effective: July 15, 2002

History: Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 346, sec. 46, effective July 15, 2002. -- Created 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 1.

67B.020 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following words or terms shall have the respective meanings indicated, unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context:

(1) "Department" means a metropolitan correctional services department created or maintained by a consolidated local government or the fiscal court of a county containing a city of the first class, where the constitutional offices of sheriff and jailer have been consolidated, pursuant to this chapter.

(2) "Fiscal court" means the county judge/executive and justices of the peace of a county, or the county judge/executive and three (3) county commissioners elected pursuant to KRS 67.050 and 67.060, which exercises the legislative functions of a county as provided by the provisions of the Kentucky Revised Statutes.

(3) "Correctional facility" means the county jail and all other detention and penal facilities of a county or consolidated local government, whether for juvenile or adult offenders and public wards, together with all rehabilitative facilities of such a county or consolidated local government for juvenile or adult offenders and for public wards, including facilities operated by private agencies under contract with the consolidated local government or fiscal court, as such facilities may be designated from time to time by the consolidated local government or fiscal court.

(4) "Sheriff" means the sheriff of a county or the sheriff in a county containing a consolidated local government who has been duly elected by the qualified voters as provided in Section 99 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

(5) "Jailer" means the jailer of a county or the jailer in a county containing a consolidated local government who has been duly elected by the qualified voters of a county as provided in Section 99 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

(6) "Governmental agency" means any incorporated city, division of a city, or consolidated local government, including the United States of America, and its agencies and instrumentalities, situated within, or conducting public operations within, a county in which a metropolitan correctional services department has been duly established.

(7) "Consolidated local government" means a local government established pursuant to KRS Chapter 67C.

Effective: July 15, 2002

History: Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 346, sec. 47, effective July 15, 2002. -- Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 27, sec. 1, effective February 29, 1996. -- Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 52, sec. 6, effective July 15, 1980. -- Amended 1976 (1st Extra. Sess.) Ky. Acts ch. 20, sec. 6, effective January 2, 1978. -- Created 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 2.

67B.030 Establishment and nature of department -- Duties of jailer and limited duties of sheriff vested in department.

(1) A metropolitan correctional services department may be established or maintained by ordinance of a consolidated local government or by order of the fiscal court of any county containing a city of the first class, in which the constitutional offices of sheriff and jailer have been consolidated as provided in Section 105 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Said department shall, upon its creation or maintenance, constitute a de jure department and division of the consolidated local or county government, having and possessing all of the enumerated powers, responsibilities, and duties hereinafter specifically set forth.

(2) Upon the creation or maintenance of a metropolitan correctional services department by the consolidated local government or fiscal court of a county containing a city of the first class, in which the constitutional offices of sheriff and jailer have been consolidated pursuant to Section 105 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, all of the duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of the sheriff and jailer as set forth and contained in the Kentucky Revised Statutes, with reference to the operation and maintenance of the county jail and all county correctional facilities shall immediately be vested in the department and thereupon the sheriff and jailer shall have no further responsibility, duty, and liability for the performance of said statutory duties on a personal basis; provided, however, that said sheriff shall be required to annually inspect all county correctional facilities and render reports as hereinafter provided.

Effective: July 15, 2002

History: Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 346, sec. 48, effective July 15, 2002. -- Amended 1982 Ky. Acts ch. 385, sec. 26, effective July 1, 1982. -- Created 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 3.

67B.040 Executive director -- Qualifications and appointment.

The mayor of a consolidated local government or a fiscal court shall, at or subsequent to the creation or maintenance of a metropolitan correctional services department, appoint and employ an executive director of the metropolitan correctional services department who shall be well-educated, trained, and experienced in the administration of correctional and rehabilitative public facilities, and who, together with assistant directors, to be appointed and employed by the mayor or fiscal court, shall have full and complete management of the department and all of its operations. The executive director of the department, together with all assistant directors, shall be directly appointed by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the mayor or fiscal court, and may be removed and replaced upon order of the mayor or fiscal court.

Effective: July 15, 2002

History: Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 346, sec. 49, effective July 15, 2002. -- Created 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 4.

67B.050 Powers and duties of department.

The department shall, subject to the approval and authorization of the consolidated local government or fiscal court, generally administer, operate, and maintain all county correctional facilities, including facilities operated by private agencies under contract with the consolidated local government or fiscal court, and formulate and implement necessary correctional and rehabilitative programs. In carrying out its duties, the department shall have and possess, subject to the approval and authorization of the consolidated local government or fiscal court, all powers necessary to effectuate its purposes, including, but not by way of limitation the following:

(1) To prepare an annual budget with reference to the operations of the department for submission to the consolidated local government or fiscal court.

(2) To authorize all expenditures of the department in conformity with the annual budget, as approved by the consolidated local government or fiscal court, all such expenditures to be submitted for consolidated local government or fiscal court approval as in the case of all other county or consolidated local government agencies and departments.

(3) To prepare and submit not less than annually a report of all the activities, programs, and expenditures of the department to the consolidated local government or fiscal court.

(4) To employ and dismiss employees as may be necessary for the proper management and operation of the department and of the correctional facilities which are governed by the department, subject to the department merit system.

(5) To promulgate comprehensive rules, regulations, and bylaws for the regulation, administration, maintenance, and operation of the department, which rules, regulations, and bylaws shall be subject to approval by the consolidated local government or fiscal court.

(6) To formulate and implement penal, correctional, and rehabilitative programs, including the power to enter into contracts with private agencies for the operation of correctional or detention facilities, all of such facilities and programs to be subject to approval by the consolidated local government or fiscal court.

(7) To comply with all statutory requirements contained in the Kentucky Revised Statutes with reference to the operation, maintenance, and upkeep of all correctional facilities.

(8) To provide for the humane care, treatment, and feeding of all inmates of all correctional facilities of the county.

(9) To enter into contracts with private or governmental agencies regarding matters of correctional and rehabilitative import, including the operation, maintenance, and upkeep of correctional or detention facilities.

(10) To apply for, and accept, grants-in-aid from any public or private agency.

Effective: July 15, 2002

History: Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 346, sec. 50, effective July 15, 2002. -- Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 27, sec. 2, effective February 29, 1996. -- Created 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 5.

67B.060 Merit system for department employees.

Upon the creation or maintenance of a metropolitan correctional services department by a consolidated local government or county fiscal court, the consolidated local government or fiscal court may create or maintain a departmental merit system, and for that purpose, establish, maintain, or designate an appropriate board, commission, or committee, whose duties it shall be to classify and examine applicants seeking employment as officers or employees of the department, and in addition, to promulgate rules and regulations governing the classification, qualification, examination, appointment, promotion, demotion, suspension, and other disciplinary action within the department, with reference to all personnel of the department; and in addition thereto, to hold such hearings, public and executive, as may be reasonably required in the operation of a viable employment protection and career development merit system. All employees of the department below the rank of assistant director shall be covered by the merit system.

Effective: July 15, 2002

History: Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 346, sec. 51, effective July 15, 2002. -- Created 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 6.

67B.070 Sheriff to inspect department's facilities.

The sheriff of any county in which a department has been established or maintained shall, not less than annually, inspect all correctional facilities administered by the department, and shall make a written report to the consolidated local government or fiscal court and to the secretary of corrections regarding the general operation of all such correctional facilities, which report shall furnish in detail information regarding the number of prisoners, detainees, and public wards who are inmates of each correctional facility; the offenses or causes for their incarceration; the length of stay with reference to same; and such further reports regarding rehabilitative programs instituted and being carried on by the department as may be required for a complete accounting and report.

Effective: July 15, 2002

History: Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 346, sec. 52, effective July 15, 2002. -- Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 331, sec. 18, effective July 15, 1986. -- Created 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 7.

67B.080 Department may contract to share staff and facilities.

A metropolitan correctional services department created in accordance with this chapter may enter into contracts and agreements with any other governmental agencies operating, or having authority to operate, correctional facilities, whereby the department may make the professional services of its staff, or the correctional facilities operated by said department, available to such other governmental agencies. All other governmental agencies are, in addition to all other powers granted by law, specifically authorized and empowered to enter into such contracts with metropolitan correctional services departments.

History: Created 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 8.