Ross-Cash Center

The Ross-Cash Center is a 200-bed, minimum-custody correctional facility for adult women in Fredonia, in Lyon County, Kentucky. It is run by the Kentucky Department of Corrections and operates as part of the Western Kentucky Correctional Complex (WKCC). This page covers what families, visitors, and the public most often look for: the facility’s background, programs, visiting rules,s and contact details.

The land off New Bethel Church Road began in 1968 as a work camp serving the Kentucky State Penitentiary. It became the Western Kentucky Farm Center in 1977, then was renamed the Western Kentucky Correctional Complex in 1989 and gained medium-security housing.

The site changed again in 2010, when its population switched from men to women. In 2015, as Kentucky’s inmate population shifted, the complex split into two prisons: a secure-custody facility for men that kept the WKCC name, and the new Ross-Cash Center for women in minimum custody.

The center is named for Patricia Ross and Fred Cash, two Department of Corrections employees killed in the line of duty in the 1980s. In 20,16 the two facilities were reunited under one administration. Men and women are still housed separately, and WKCC is now Kentucky’s only state-level co-ed correctional complex.

The Ross-Cash Center focuses on safe housing for the women in its care, a secure setting for staff, and a welcoming, orderly experience for visitors. The WKCC complex has held American Correctional Association (ACA) accreditation since 1988.

The center’s 200 beds sit outside the fenced perimeter that surrounds the men’s housing, which fits its minimum-custody classification.

Programming at the Ross-Cash Center is built around personal accountability, recovery, and preparing for life after release. Offerings depend on available resources and the needs of the population, so check with the facility for the current list.

Education and job training: The Kentucky DOC lists its academic and career programs under WKCC, including GED preparation, carpentry, electricity, horticulture, and associate degree coursework. Confirm with the facility which of these are open to Ross-Cash residents.

The Ross-Cash Center holds up to 200 women. The wider WKCC complex has about 693 beds, with the remaining 493 in the fenced men’s compound. According to the Kentucky DOC site, the complex is led by Warden Bobbi Jo Butts. Confirm current staffing with the department, since leadership can change.

Visits take place on weekends and are managed for the safety of everyone on site.

• Schedule: Saturday or Sunday visits alternate each month between the Ross-Cash Center and the WKCC men’s compound. Check the monthly calendar before you travel.
• Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Visitor processing begins around 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9:00 a.m.
• Visitors: Each resident may receive up to two adult visitors at a time. Adults must show valid government-issued photo ID, and minors must be on the approved visitor list.
• Appointments: Regular visits don’t require one. Non-contact visits must be arranged ahead of time with the facility.
• Video visits: Available through Securus Technologies, 25 minutes each, scheduled at least 48 hours in advance.

Rules and schedules change, so confirm them with the facility or the Kentucky DOC before you plan a trip.

To find a resident, use the Kentucky Offender Online Lookup (KOOL) on the Kentucky Department of Corrections website. The same site has official visiting policies, program details, and facility updates.