A Caldwell County native has been named the new warden of the Western Kentucky Correctional Complex (WKCC) in Lyon County.
Kentucky Department of Corrections Commissioner Cookie Crews announced Friday Bobbi Jo Butts was recently appointed to the position following the retirement of current warden, Tim Lane on August 1st. Crews stated Butts is a true corrections professional and her varied assignments within the department have prepared her well for the appointment to warden.
Butts, who lives with her family in Fredonia, has served as deputy warden at the Green River Correctional Complex in Central City since 2018. She began her career with the department in 2010 as a correctional officer at WKCC and has worked several assignments including classification and treatment officer and unit administrator.
Butts has also served as a facilitator for Thinking for a Change and has overseen a multitude of other programs, as well as serving as WKCC’s KOMS liaison, public information officer, and the Ross-Cash grievance coordinator. As a member of the Kentucky Council on Crime and Delinquency, she has served terms as president and treasurer for the Four Rivers Chapter and has served in various positions on the WKCC Crisis Negotiation Team.
Butts is a graduate of the Commissioner’s Executive Leadership Program and a 2016 Achievement Award recipient and earned her bachelor’s degree in business management from Mid-Continent University.
Current warden Tim Lane, who lives with his family in Princeton, has served as warden since 2017.