On Friday, Attorney General Russell Coleman announced the filing of an emergency motion with the Kentucky Court of Appeals to keep more than 240 convicted criminals behind bars.
In February, the Franklin County Circuit Court invalidated a portion of the Safer Kentucky Act, which broadened the definition of “violent offender” to include those convicted of strangulation, reckless homicide, attempted murder, carjacking and more.
Earlier this week, the Circuit Court denied the Coleman’s request to keep its order from going into effect while litigation continues.
Unless the Kentucky Court of Appeals blocks the Circuit Court’s order hundreds of convicted criminals could immediately be released by the Kentucky Parole Board.
“The General Assembly passed the Safer Kentucky Act to protect families and support law enforcement,” Coleman said in a release. “Unless the Court of Appeals steps in, more violent criminals could soon be back in your neighborhood.”
House Bill 5, which brought changes to Kentucky’s criminal justice laws, was enacted in 2024. According to the release, criminals convicted of a violent offense are prevented from release on probation, shock probation, parole, conditional discharge, or other form of early release until they serve at least 85% of their sentence.
Before the legislation, criminals convicted of offenses like strangulation and reckless homicide became eligible for early release after serving only 20% of their sentences.
The Safer Kentucky Act applies to violent offenders who committed their crimes before the law’s effective date, as long as they hadn’t been sentenced yet.
Click here to see a list of the criminals who could be released by the Parole Board, along with their county and crimes.
Source: WBKO
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