The facility has long dealt with drug problems, escapees, stolen vehicles, and most recently drug trafficking with the arrest of DeAnthony Woods, Ralph Gaines Jr, and David Jones.
After an escape occurred last year, which took officials hours to respond to, City Commissioner Richard Abraham pushed to have an ordinance passed that required all private correctional facilities in the city to inform police that a probationer, inmate, or parolee was unaccounted for.
Although some in the community have called for Keeton's closure, Abraham has a positive outlook for the future of the facility.
West Kentucky Star spoke with Abraham about the concerns from the public. Abraham said that he has seen improvements since the new director, Rob Estes, took over the facility.
"The best thing that could have happened for us and the community is having Estes on the inside, making sure those programs are implemented, making sure that the rules are consistent." Abraham said, "He's a man of integrity. A lot of folks that live around here, they don't know that there's been a change, so we need to get that out there and you'll start to see fewer and fewer incidences there moving forward."
Abraham says Estes has been working with local and state police to maintain standards he put in place at Keeton when he was put in charge of the facility.
Abraham says there are still concerns about the facility, but if it going to stay in Paducah, this type of progress is welcomed.
Federal officials charged Woods, Gaines and Jones with trafficking charges on Monday related to a drug sweep at the facility in May. They also face charges in McCracken County from the investigation.
On the Net:
Three Charged With Drug Trafficking in Paducah
