Otter Creek Correctional Center in Wheelright was closed in 2012 amid continued allegations of medical neglect, shoddy security, and sexual abuse of inmates from staff.

In November 2017, due to facility overcrowding, the Kentucky Department of Corrections signed a contract allowing CoreCivic to reactivate the vacant prison to house up to 800 male inmates.

[17] Since the beginning of the 2015 fiscal year, the department has seen a staffing shortage to low salaries, constant overtime (currently nearing $10 million), and the lure of higher paying jobs in the private sector.

[18] Shortly after taking office, former governor Matt Bevin included $4.5 million in his biennial budget proposal to provide retention raises for correctional staff.

In July 2021, the department won a court ruling allowing it to deny health care to prisoners in order to save money.