News Summary
Charnelle Richards, a former officer at Fayette County Jail, has filed a lawsuit against former colleagues, alleging racial discrimination and a hostile work environment. The suit claims she faced unfair treatment, including reduced training time and disproportionate disciplinary actions based on race. Despite raising concerns, management allegedly failed to address the issues, prompting her to seek back pay and damages. The case highlights ongoing racial discrimination concerns within law enforcement agencies.
Lexington, KY – A former jail officer has filed a lawsuit against several former colleagues and supervisors, alleging racial discrimination and a hostile work environment at the Fayette County Jail. Charnelle Richards submitted the legal complaint on June 27, 2025, claiming she endured unfair treatment based on her race during her tenure at the facility.
The lawsuit lists multiple defendants, including supervisors Joseph Price, Lisa Farmer, Jessica Bishop, Hunter Hershey, and Bradley Baker, alongside coworkers Justin Piercey and Jonathon Hunt. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government is also named in the suit. A spokesperson for the city has stated that officials cannot comment on ongoing lawsuits.
Richards was hired at the Fayette County Jail in December 2016 and was transferred to the intake processing unit seven months later. According to the allegations, she was given only three weeks to learn the procedures of her new department, which is significantly less time than the typical training period provided to other employees. Reports from the lawsuit indicate that white employees received longer training times and more opportunities, contributing to an unfair work environment for Richards.
In her complaint, Richards faced threats of demotion for failing to complete her training within this abbreviated timeframe. She was reportedly written up for mistakes that her white counterparts did not face consequences for, further highlighting the discrimination she claims to have experienced. The lawsuit also claims that the jail’s overtime policy was applied unfairly, with Richards’ choices for assignments often given to white employees instead, prompting her to express her concerns to jail management.
Despite raising these issues, Richards asserts that management took no action to rectify the situation. Instead, the alleged discrimination intensified, resulting in more severe disciplinary actions against her. She claims she was written up for insubordination after voicing her complaints. Additionally, Richards accuses coworkers Hunt and Piercey of using a white supremacy symbol, a three-finger salute, which was reportedly displayed on holiday decorations within the jail.
Further incidents cited in the lawsuit include a prank where Richards was misled into thinking she was being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Despite reporting this incident, she alleges that no steps were taken to address her grievances. The cumulative effects of these actions reportedly led to significant personal consequences for Richards, including a loss of wages, humiliation, and embarrassment.
Richards is pursuing back pay, compensatory damages, and an injunction to prevent any further discriminatory practices in the workplace. As the case unfolds, it has raised important discussions about workplace conduct and the treatment of staff in law enforcement settings.
Current jail officials confirm that the supervisors named in the lawsuit—Price, Farmer, and Hershey—no longer work at the Fayette County Jail. Price, a former lieutenant at the facility since 2012, resigned amidst ongoing investigations and accepted a guilty plea deal in a separate sex crime case, resulting in a five-year prison sentence, part of which is being served under home incarceration. Despite these developments, Biship, Baker, Piercey, and Hunt remain employed at the jail.
This lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns regarding racial discrimination and the treatment of employees within law enforcement agencies. The outcome of this case may serve to influence policies and practices related to equality and fairness in the workplace.
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Additional Resources
- Kentucky.com: Racial Discrimination Lawsuit
- Wikipedia: Racial Discrimination
- Local Memphis: Fayette County Lawsuit
- Google Search: Fayette County Racial Discrimination
- Fox 13 Memphis: Fayette County School Board
- Google Scholar: Fayette County Discrimination
- Tennessee Lookout: Fayette County Voting Rights Lawsuit
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Racial Discrimination
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON KY STAFF
LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexingtonKY.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
