Over 30 Kentucky Prison Guards Involved In Sexual Misconduct And Drug Smuggling
Over a 16 month investigation spanning through November 2023, at least 30 Kentucky Department of Corrections officers participated in sexual misconduct and drug smuggling.
Prison staff were reportedly forming inappropriate relationships with inmates, including a scandal involving a female employee becoming pregnant by an inmate.
According to the Lexington Herald Leader, 14 others were caught smuggling drugs into the prison facility.
The internal documents exposed multiple cases of misconduct, including prison guard Trista Fox, 39, who was charged with third-degree rape in December 2022 after fellow guards busted her having sexual intercourse with a Kentucky State inmate in Lyon County.
According to the New York Post, another female guard who voluntarily resigned after being confronted about her relationship with a prisoner, admitted to investigators that she was vulnerable to one inmate's romantic endeavors.
A case was presented at the Sandy Correctional Complex in Elliott County when a female corrections officer was terminated in 2022 after she was seen meeting with an inmate over 25 times across various areas within prison dorms.
Select probation officers also reportedly took part in the sexual misconduct, with one officer becoming pregnant by a convict on parole.
In addition to sexual misconduct, 14 prison employees oversaw the entry of illegal substances into prisons, some of which were paid transactions.
Out of 140 prison employees who were investigated, 62 were fired or resigned. Others were given a warning or corrective training.
Deputy commissioner of adult institutions, Scott Jordan, suggested that the high number of cases were a reflection of the effectiveness of their response strategy.
"We handle every piece of information the same, whether that be contraband or a relationship or whatever. The truth of the matter is, if we were not handling these situations in a very aggressive manner, the numbers would not be what they were," he told the Lexington Herald Leader.
Experts believe that the challenging prison conditions of overworked employees and understaffed facilities may contribute to feelings of isolation and vulnerability.
