Gov. Beshear Recognizes Second Chance Month, Ceremonially Signs Legislation To Establish Game-Changing Reentry Center

Kentucky Community and Technical College System facility to provide vital job skills training to 400 inmates annually

BURGIN, Ky. (April 27, 2026) - Today, Gov. Andy Beshear recognized Second Chance Month in the commonwealth by ceremonially signing House Bill 5, which provides the framework to create Kentucky's first reentry campus, focused on increasing public safety and boosting the state's workforce.

Second Chance Month brings communities and organizations together throughout the nation to raise awareness of barriers that inmates face upon reentering society. Kentucky is committed to increasing public safety and reducing crime, which is why the commonwealth has seen recidivism rates decrease for two years in a row. Today's event symbolizes Team Kentucky's commitment to moving the commonwealth forward.

"In Kentucky, we believe in the importance of second chances, and that's evident in the legislation we're signing today which will establish our commonwealth as a national model for public safety," Gov. Beshear said. "Together we're building a safer New Kentucky Home by improving reentry outcomes and helping people get good-paying jobs - because it's the right thing to do."

The reentry campus will be operated by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) on the grounds of Northpoint Training Center in Burgin. Once constructed, it will provide up to 400 inmates each year with targeted vocational technical education programs and intensive reentry services.

"KCTCS is the commonwealth's affordable entry point to higher education and leading workforce provider. Through HB 5, we'll be able to accelerate our work in providing training that leads to a job for our fair-chance population," said Dr. Ryan Quarles, president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. "I want to thank Gov. Beshear and Secretary Jackson for their partnership, and Rep. Decker, Sen. Storm and their co-sponsors for their leadership in the General Assembly. One of the best predictors for decreasing recidivism is providing access to gainful employment. Economic development is our guide star, and this is one more way we're helping Kentucky meet its workforce needs."

The program will require inmates from across Kentucky's state prisons to qualify and apply for participation and to maintain good behavior and success to remain in the program. Participating inmates will be enrolled as students in KCTCS and will receive vocational training in industries that support Kentucky's booming economy. The facility's intensive reentry services will prepare inmates for success in their jobs and communities upon release.

"Kentucky is safer when we work together to provide inmates with the skills and tools needed to get a good-paying job once their sentences are complete," Department of Corrections Commissioner Cookie Crews said. "We're excited to partner with our friends at KCTCS to make sure all our communities are made safer and generational cycles of crime are ended."

House Bill 5, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Decker of Waddy, received bipartisan support at each stage of the legislative process, passing out of the House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously.

"Because we have authorized the new school doors to be open here at Northpoint, I'm confident fewer prison doors will close behind Kentuckians in the years ahead," said Rep. Decker. "Thank you again for this signing today, and may God richly use this bill and all our efforts to improve the commonwealth."

This reentry campus builds on recent work the Beshear administration has done to improve second chance opportunities and further reduce recidivism rates, which have decreased for two years in a row. Since the Governor took office, Team Kentucky has taken several steps to prepare inmates for success upon release and enhance public safety by:

• Launching different technical education courses in prisons across the commonwealth for a current total of 35, including a pre-apprenticeship welding program in partnership with Ironworkers Local Union #70, for inmates to prepare for employment upon release. So far, 1,779 inmates have completed at least one course.
• Providing eligible inmates leaving state custody with continued access to physical and mental health care and addiction services for up to a year after release.
• Partnering with Simmons College of Kentucky, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and Kentucky State University.
• Restoring voting rights to more than 200,000 Kentuckians who have completed their sentences for nonviolent, nonsexual offenses.
• Establishing reentry centers inside each of Kentucky's 14 state prisons to deliver focused life-skills training.
• Creating the Team Kentucky Office of Reentry Services to continue the important work of supporting second chances and to help maximize, concentrate and better coordinate services and resources across state government.
• Establishing the Governor's Council of Second Chance Employers, comprising 15 business and community leaders, including Amazon, UPS, DV8 Kitchen and KCTCS. The council meets quarterly to promote second chance hiring, improve outcomes for individuals released from incarceration and reduce recidivism rates in the state.
• Maintaining the website secondchance.ky.gov, which connects Kentuckians overcoming addiction or leaving prison to resources that can help them find a job, get an education and support their continued recovery.
• Joining members of the Kentucky State Building and Construction Trades Council to launch the Jobs on Day One initiative, which helps inmates prepare for Kentucky's fast-paced labor market through targeted pre-apprenticeship training.
• Removing barriers to housing and employment for inmates upon release by issuing state identification and offering transportation at no cost to medical appointments, job interviews, educational courses and probation and parole meetings.
• Recording a nearly 8% decrease in reports of serious crime in Kentucky in 2024.
• Reducing overdose deaths in the commonwealth for three straight years.

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