August 5, 2025
 
 
 
 
Members of the General Assembly,
 
           Research says that in many ways people are worse off after an incarceration than they were prior to incarceration. It’s not just that their life is disrupted. Their health is worse, risk for addition rises, unemployment and homelessness are more likely, financial stability is diminished, and life spans are shortened, all while they are under the care of the state. These issues all impact a person’s ability to move on with their life and to make community-minded decisions once they have completed their sentence.
            We don’t know all the factors that contribute to this unfortunate result, but it makes sense to address any and all possible factors. The crimes against humanity codified in Section 25 of our KY Constitution is one significant factor. Punishment for a crime should not make people less well, and it should not make it harder for anyone to make better decisions. In fact, it should support them in making better decisions.
             Do you agree that people convicted of a crime should be supported in making better decisions? Are you willing to support the removal of the exception clasue in order to assure that people convicted of a crime are not unnecessarily burdened by crimes against humanity?
 
 
 
Patricia Gailey, President
Abolish Slavery KY, Inc

​July 1, 2025
 
 
Members of the General Assembly,
 
                  I write again to remind you that in the midst of everything else going on, we still have the unfinished business of harboring crimes against humanity in our KY Constitution. Many of you have said to me that we need to take care of this. Indeed. In these letters I am laying out many reasons why so that open discourse on the topic can occur. 
Many of you are aware that Section 25 in our Constitution names slavery and involuntary servitude as appropriate punishments for a crime. This was written in 1891, and we have failed to change it, even though our understanding of what is appropriate punishment has changed over the years. Two other guiding documents highlight that change in thinking. 

• First, in 1948, the US ratified the UN Declaration of Human Rights statement that slavery and involuntary servitude are crimes against humanity and should not be perpetrated anywhere on any person at any time. 
• Second, the current Department of Corrections mission statement contradicts Section 25 by saying that DOC strives “…to provide a safe, secure and humane environment for staff and offenders…”  

                  Documents that are out of alignment with other guiding documents only confuse matters. Amending Section 25 would bring all guiding documents into alignment, and would create a strong basis for decision-making going forward. Is this something you and your caucus members think would be worthwhile? How do you envision it being accomplished?
If you have lent your support to abolishing slavery in the past, thank you! We look forward to continuing our work with you until slavery and involuntary servitude are abolished once and for all.
 
Patricia Gailey, President
Abolish Slavery KY, Inc

 
June 4, 2025
 
Members of the General Assembly,
 
               For several years, Kentuckians have gathered to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday, which commemorates the end of slavery and the beginning of treating one another with dignity.
​
                Juneteenth is the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when African-Americans in Texas first learned that their freedom was ensured by the Emancipation Proclamation. President Lincoln’s Proclamation declared permanent freedom for enslaved people in rebellious Confederate States. Kentucky was not on that list because, although we were still enslaving people, we were cooperating with the Union. One might say we were sitting on the fence in regard to slavery. One might also say we are still on that fence.  

                Freedom for Kentuckians was established by the 13th Amendment, which assures that enslavement and involuntary servitude are prohibited, except for those who have been convicted of a crime. Our KY Constitution reflects the 13th Amendment in its entirety. And that means we are still not fully committed to treating everyone with dignity.

       Because Kentucky has not ended slavery and involuntary servitude, our commemoration of the end of slavery rings hollow. Maybe we should think of our Juneteenth celebrations as practice until we finish our work. But while we have our fun practicing, Kentuckians are still at risk for crimes against humanity. Is that right and fair? Wouldn’t it be more honest and better for everyone if we could celebrate having already accomplished a true end of slavery and involuntary servitude?  I’d love to hear your thoughts on that.
 
Patricia Gailey, President
Abolish Slavery KY, Inc

   Civil death, the practice of making a person ‘dead’ to the state (i.e., rescinding the right to vote) has roots all the way back to ancient civilization. The idea was that if a person’s crime was heinous enough to be punishable by death, then they should not be allowed to participate in community or government affairs as they go to their execution.