KY DOC – Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex (EKCC)

KY DOC – Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex (EKCC) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 606-743-2800

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at Eastern KY Correctional located at 200 Road to Justice in West Liberty, 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.

Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex is a medium-security prison that also contains a stand-alone minimum security unit. Inmates at this prison can receive anger management, treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, and a general life skills course. A pre-release program called 'Prison to Paycheck' prepares inmates for their release (6-12months) by teaching the offender how to complete job resumes, job interviews, and job applications. Education is an important part of the rehabilitation process. Inmates housed at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex can take adult basic education courses, earn a GED, and learn to read. Technical/Vocational programs offer inmates certifications in Carpentry, HVAC, small engine repair, and masonry.

Inmate Programs – The Programs Department is responsible for implementing and maintaining inmate programs designed to assist inmates in becoming productive citizens upon their return to society. To this end the following programs are available to qualifying inmates:

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA) – Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism/drug addiction. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking/using. AA’s primary purpose is each to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. Two groups meet weekly in the multi-purpose room during the day. These meetings are conducted by CTO’s.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS (NA) – Narcotics Anonymous is a fellowship of men who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism/drug addiction. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking/using. NA’s primary purpose is each to stay sober and help other addicts to achieve sobriety. This group meets bi-weekly in the Academic Wing on Monday nights. These meetings are conducted by outside volunteers.

MRT/ANGER MANAGEMENT (COPING WITH ANGER) – This is an evidence-based program derived from the Moral Reconation Therapy concept. It focuses on managing feelings and behaviors accompanying anger. It consists of eight modules that include anger as a destroyer, how anger occurs, choosing new behaviors (3 sections), anger, violence and abuse, frustrations and commitment to change. The program runs for 24 weeks and participants who successfully complete it are eligible to receive 90 days of good time. It is conducted by a contract moderator on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays (2 different times available). This program is also offered at a different time on Thursdays for our Pre-Release Dorm.

MRT RELAPSE PREVENTION – This program is designed to help an individual identify thinking patterns that are skewed and require some restructuring to pull the client out of their current situation. It combines education, group and individual counseling, and structured exercises designed to foster moral development. Moreover, the program is designed to help clients identify how and why previous attempts to full recovery have not worked while assisting in identifying the sobriety path for a more successful tomorrow. Participants who successfully complete this are eligible to receive 90 days of good time. This program is conducted by a contract moderator on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

DESIGN FOR LIVING – Design for Living is a program for educating inmates who are substance abusers. The program involves only the education component and covers the history of mood-altering chemicals, how they have been regarded in society, and how they affect people. Inmates also learn the relationship between chemical use and AIDS, pregnancy, physical abuse, childhood sexual abuse and criminal behavior. This program runs for 12 weeks and is offered on Tuesday morning and Friday afternoon. In addition, Design for Living is offered on Monday’s at 4:30 p.m. in the Minimum Security Unit (on a rotating basis with the Pulling Punches and Life Without a Crutch programs). These programs are conducted by CTO’s.

IN2WORK – This program is taught by our Aramark Food Service Administrator. It is designed to provide hands-on training that consists of three phases – kitchen basics, retail basics and certification. This program takes (20) twenty to (22) twenty-two weeks to complete. All graduates receive a food service certificate of training that is highly regarded in the foodservice industry. The program is offered on Wednesday afternoon. Inmates who successfully complete the program also receive an award of 90 days of good time credit.

INSIDE OUT DAD – Inside Out Dad is an evidence-based program designed to connect incarcerated fathers to their families and prepare them for release. This program was designed by the National Fatherhood Initiative in Germantown, MD and is offered in prisons across the country. The program runs for 24 weeks and participants who complete the program will be eligible to receive 90 days of good time credit. This program is offered on Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon and is conducted by a CTO. This program is also offered later on Tuesday afternoon for our Pre-Release Dorm.

LIFE WITHOUT A CRUTCH – This program is an introduction to recovery from addiction. It describes what addiction is, its causes and effects, the rewards of overcoming it and ideas on how to begin. The program is used in a group counseling typesetting and group participation is mandatory. This program meets on Tuesday mornings for approximately 8 weeks. It is also offered at the Minimum Security Unit on Mondays at 4:30 p.m. (on a rotating basis with the Pulling Punches and Design For Living programs). The criteria for participation are any addiction problem, willingness to admit such, and participation. The programs are conducted by CTO’s.

MRT SUCCESSFUL RE-ENTRY INTO THE COMMUNITY – This program is aimed at clients who have 6 months to a year prior to being released from the institution and who will be re-entering the realms of their old community. The purpose of treatment is to further decrease the number of cases/clients that return into the system by providing them with the tools necessary to not engage in relapse. A progressive treatment approach includes four curriculums, to include: Family Support (financial obligation to family that has been neglected due to absence from their lives), Filling the Inner Void (general and specific concepts on material possessions-why people have so many materialistic needs), Untangling Relationships (co-dependency: teaching clients not to be co-dependent but rather independent), Job Readiness (post-conversion into a dependent, defining those lines in terms of financial security and being independent). The treatment strategy utilized encompasses multi-directional approaches weekly in which clients receive education, support, skills/tools, security and safety, ability to plan/work on a realistic/measurable/attainable maser goal plan for when they exit the institution and re-join the community. Its purpose is to train the individual to recognize what tools to utilize in what situation in order to become and remain successful in the transformation/transition. Participants who successfully complete it are eligible for 90 days of good time credit. This program is conducted by different contract moderators and is offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays (2 different times available), Thursdays, and Fridays.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS – The Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex (EKCC) in conjunction with the Council on Post-Secondary Education (CPE), Kentucky Adult Education (KYAE), and Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) oversees the educational programming at the facility. There are three separate educational curriculums available to the inmate population at EKCC, they are; Adult Basic Education (GED), Occupational/Technical (vocational) and College Transfer programs.

Adult Basic Education offers a High School Equivalency Diploma (GED) along with literacy and life skills to students who have not previously earned a traditional high school diploma or GED. These classes are offered Monday through Friday 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the main facility’s Academic Wing and are open to all qualifying general population students. In addition to these day classes, for three evenings a week, classes are offered from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. in the main facility for qualified students who hold a day job and cannot attend school during the day. The Minimum Security Unit, located outside the main facility, offers classes in two-hour sessions three evenings per week.

Our Occupational/Technical Programming offers Carpentry, Heating & Air Conditioning Technology (pending), Masonry, Small Engine Repair, and Microsoft Office IC3 (pending). Nationally recognized certificates are available for successful completion of each program. With the exception of Microsoft IC3, these programs are offered Monday through Friday from 8:15 to 2:30 in the Vocational Wing of the main facility. Microsoft IC3 (pending) will be held in the Academic Wing on Monday – Thursday during the school day.

The College Transfer program operates on the traditional semester basis and offers Associate in Arts (AA) and an Associate in Science (AS) degrees from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). These courses are offered during evening hours 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday so that the general population inmates housed in the main facility have the opportunity to participate.

visitation Info

KY DOC – Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex – Visitation

Visitation Times:

Note: Visitors must be checked in at the Front Lobby desk no later than 2:30PM to be allowed to visit.  All visits can be up to two hours in length unless the Visiting Supervisor determines otherwise (i.e. due to excessive number of visits).

• General Visiting Rules
  • Inmates may not receive a visit during their first weekend at EKCC.
  • No more than 3 adult visitors shall visit an inmate during a contact visit.
  • No more than 2 adult visitors shall visit an inmate during a (non-contact) controlled visit.
  • Physical contact is limited to one brief kiss (no open mouth kissing is permitted) and hug at the beginning and end of each visit. Sexual stimulation or activity shall be strictly prohibited.
  • Children must be kept under the parental control at all times.
  • Infants (0-1 year) may be held by the inmate. All other children must be seated or held by visiting parent or guardian.
  • All children must have Identification Card, Social Security Card or Birth Certificate before they will be allowed to visit and must be accompanied by an adult.
  • If a minor is accompanied by a non-parent or guardian they shall be required to have the written, signed and notarized consent of the parent or guardian.
  • Infants under the age of 6 months may visit unlimited time without a social security number, provided the person bringing them meet all the guidelines to visit.
  • All minor children must have proper identification with them to be able to visit (i.e. Social Security Card, birth record, or picture identification).
  • All trash must be placed in the appropriate containers at the end of each visit.
• Dress Code
  • Visitors clothing and dress shall conform as close as possible to accepted dress within the community and shall require clothing to be in good taste as not to offend other visitors, staff and/or inmates. This includes:
    • No spandex clothing.
    • no tank tops or tube tops.
    • Dresses, skirts, and shorts must be at least knee length.
    • No sleeveless shirts (including see-through sleeves).
    • Shirts must be capable of being tucked in to jeans, slacks, or skirts
    • No low-cut or provocative clothing will be allowed (i.e. tight fitting pants, low-cut shirts, fishnet clothing).
    • Appropriate undergarments must be work (i.e. bra, panties, underwear, a slip worn with a dress).
    • No hats, coats, gloves or scarves are permitted.
    • Shoes shall be worn at all times. Shoes shall be closed toe. Unauthorized footwear includes: sandals, clogs, crocs and flip flops.
    • No tissue paper or handkerchiefs are permitted.
    • No gum, mints, candy, etc. will be permitted.
• Items Allowed in the Visiting Room
  • Thirty-dollar limit ($30 in $1 bills and silver change).
  • Vehicle keys (1 vehicle key. No key chains or keyless remotes will be permitted).
  • Clear plastic bag or coin purse for money.
  • Essential infant items
    • 1 plastic bottle
    • 3 diapers
    • no toys, no wipes, no blankets, and no glass baby food jars will be permitted
  • Visitors may leave a US Postal Money Order for the inmates in a locked box at the front lobby reception.
  • Visitors may wear 1 watch, 1 ring, 1 necklace, and 1 pair of earrings.
  • Visitors may not wear bracelets or have any visible body piercings (nose rings, eyebrow rings, lip rings, etc.) other than ears.
  • Any Items not allowed in the visiting room shall be placed in lobby lockers. Any items left at the front reception desk will be disposed of by staff.
  • All visitor pockets must be emptied at the metal detector near the visiting room entrance.
  • All allowed medication must be left at the visiting room desk with the visiting room officers.
  • Any violation of the above-listed rules will result in immediate termination of the visit and/or disciplinary action.
• Items not allowed in the Visiting Room
  • No cameras, cell phone or recording devices are allowed.
  • These devices must be left inside the secured vehicle.
  • All tobacco products must be left inside the secured vehicle (cigarettes, chew, dip).
• Items NOT allowed on institutional grounds
  • No knives, guns, or anything that could cause bodily harm are permitted on institutional grounds.
  • There is no smoking or use of tobacco products on institutional grounds.
• Any visit may be terminated immediately at the discretion of the visiting room/area supervisor id he/she determines an incident to be of a serious nature.