Todd County Jailer - Jeff Penick

Together WE can continue making a difference in Todd County.

I am the incumbent elected jailer and was sworn into office on January 1, 2019. I am a U.S. Air Force veteran that served as a Military Police Supervisor and Management Analyst. I have a Master of Arts Degree in Education from Morehead State University.

I am a member of the Kentucky Jailers Association, American Correctional Association, American Jail Association, and American Legion, and Past President and current Secretary of the Elkton Rotary Club.

I worked inside the Todd County Jail from 2008 to 2015, teaching and providing educational services. Our Todd County, Adult Education program helped over 91 inmates earn GED diplomas and National Career Readiness Certificates. Our program was noted as the top-performing adult education program in Kentucky for multiple years. Currently, I am a facilitator for the Moral Reconation Therapy classes and the Portal New Direction programs offered in the jail.

I have ministered collectively for churches of Christ for 32 years in TN, KY & CA. I have done mission work in Ghana, West Africa, and Ukraine. My wife of 40 years is the former Amanda Beales of Thetford, England.

I formerly worked with a Juvenile Diversion Program for first-time offenders. Currently I serve as one of four volunteer Chaplains associated with Todd County Emergency Services.

One hundred twelve additional high-definition security cameras have been deployed at the jail to give a full view of the facility and adequately monitor the residents' activities and actions. Over my past four years in office, commissary funds have been saved to buy a full-body scanner to help prevent dangerous contraband. Seven hundred fifty yards of razor wire were purchased to secure the jail's perimeter and prevent escapes. Two drug dogs are contracted to conduct randomly scheduled facility searches. The Todd County Jail is now a Pearson Vue-approved GED testing center, meaning inmates no longer have to leave our facility's safety to take the GED test.

Maintaining a workforce of qualified employees also directly impacts facility safety. The jail staff is required to complete 24 hours of training annually. However, all jail staff members have not only completed the 24 hours, but most staff have completed double to triple the hours required in advanced and specialized training.

My next priority is operating the jail in the most cost-effective manner possible without compromising safety. The jail typically employs 26 full-time personnel to handle the operation and management of the facility. The jail's main expenditures involve the 5 "M"s: Mortage, Medical, Meals, Manpower & Maintenance. Medical and Meal services are contracted out and rebid periodically to obtain better pricing and service. Deputies now biometrically log into their daily shifts to accurately account for hours worked.

During my administration, all fluorescent light fixtures in the jail have been retrofitted with energy-efficient LED bulbs. Failed nonfunctioning water heaters were replaced with energy-efficient tankless on-demand gas water heaters. Other money-saving initiatives are part of the ongoing future maintenance plans for the jail.

The Governor declared a state of emergency in 2020. He emptied local jails of medically fragile inmates and stopped all outside work crews during the Covid 19 pandemic for an extended time frame. The community service projects the inmates provide are beneficial to our county. With most restrictions being lifted, Our jail crews enjoy being outside and working in the community again. It is good for their own physical and mental well-being.
We look forward to dependably continuing to care for public lands and projects in Todd County. If something specific is needed, please call me @ (270) 265-9966 x211

PLEASE HELP! Together, WE can continue making a difference in Todd County! Will you please help me to continue making positive changes in our local jail? Please let me know if you can volunteer your expertise to make this possible. Contact me at: jpenick@toddcogov.com