About KCIW

The Kentucky Constitution, Section 252, established the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women (KCIW) as the only adult female institution in the Commonwealth for the purpose of housing felons from all 120 counties.

KCIW was constructed in 1937 and received its first inmate on November 1, 1938.  It was originally considered an extension of the Kentucky State Reformatory at LaGrange.  In 1961, the State Legislature made it an autonomous institution headed by its own executive officer, the Warden.

The institution is located on 270 acres in Shelby County, near the town of Pewee Valley. The total number of inmates processed during 2007 was 8,189, an average of 682 per month.   The median age of inmates is 35 years.

KCIW is considered multi-custody as differential housing and programming must meet the needs of females serving from one year to life, death row, maximum, medium, minimum, community custody, first offenders, persistent offenders, the disabled and special needs inmates.

Date Opened                            1938

Security Status                          Multi Custody Levels

Allotted Staff Positions               220

Average Total Population (2007)  682

White Inmates                          541

Black Inmate                             137

Hispanic Inmates                         2

Other Inmates                             3

Annual Cost per Inmate            $19688.76

Daily Cost per Inmate               $54.09

Annual Operating Budget           $11,202,835.00

Accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA)