FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 14, 2023) – Department of Corrections (DOC) Training Division Director Tammy Lou Wright today announced the promotion of Kenny Talbott to assistant director of the division.
“Kenny Talbott brings a wealth of knowledge and a vision to the Division of Training,” said Wright. “His understanding of the department’s operations allows him to support the regional training centers with ease. He is an asset no matter what his job title is and I’m thankful he joined our team.”
Talbott began his DOC career in 2004 as the chaplain at the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women (KCIW). While attending to the religious needs of the institution, he supervised over 200 certified volunteers and organized a yearly calendar with over 800 events. He also served as the institutional public information officer, grievance chair, volunteer coordinator, duty officer and security threat group team member.
For a brief period in 2011, Talbott worked as an institutional training coordinator at the Kentucky State Reformatory (KSR). In this role he taught KSR staff in common core and officer in-service, in addition to serving as a weapons instructor, before returning to KCIW as chaplain.
In 2018, Talbott promoted to justice program administrator for Staff Wellness. Along with working with staff across the commonwealth who have been involved in workplace violence, Talbott assisted in developing and presenting several courses on emotional survival and trauma exposure in Corrections. In 2019, he presented at the Kentucky Council on Crime and Delinquency (KCCD) conference on the impact of trauma exposure on Corrections professionals. He was also instrumental in implementing the first staff wellness fair at the conference. Additionally, while working with WebMD, he promoted DOC-wide step challenges and health fairs.
Talbott has served on nearly 40 Critical Incident Stress Debriefings (CISD) involving institutions, Probation and Parole offices, jails, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. He has created curriculum and conducted quarterly training for all CISD team members. Over the past two years he has reviewed, edited and provided voice-over work for several DOC training courses.
Talbott earned his bachelor’s degree in biblical studies from Cincinnati Christian University. He is a member of KCCD and serves as chaplain for the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #53.
Editor’s note: photo attached
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