Ellsworth Correctional Facility

Facility History and Description

 

Wardens

Dan Schnurr(2011-Present)
Johnnie Goddard (2007-2011)
Sam Cline (2003-2007)
Raymond N. Roberts (1999-2003)
L.E. Bruce (1992-1999)
Robert L. Harrison (1990-1992)
Michael A. Nelson(1987-1990)

 

The 1986 Kansas Legislature approved construction of the Ellsworth Correctional Facility (ECF), which was designed to house 226 minimum-custody inmates.

The 1988 Kansas Legislature approved an expansion project to provide housing for a total of 516 multi-custody inmates.

ECF was officially dedicated on June 5, 1990.

In 1991, the operating capacity was increased to accommodate 584 multi-custody inmates.

In 1995, 48 additional beds were added to the minimum-housing unit, increasing the total number of minimum-custody beds from 96 to 144.

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 Kansas Legislature approved construction of a 100-bed, maximum-security unit at ECF. Due to increasing numbers of medium-custody inmates in the system, the unit is currently being utilized to house medium-custody inmates and the facility's segregation population.

The facility is located on a 68.6-acre site and currently provides housing for 832 multi-custody inmates.

The budget for FY 2012 is approximately $13 million which reflects a yearly operational cost per inmate of approximately $19,780.

In February 1994, the Ellsworth Correctional Facility was officially designated by the Secretary of Corrections as a parole violator facility, one of approximately four in the country.

An Offender Privileges and Incentives Level System was initiated in May 1995, thus providing structured levels of increased privileges and incentives which inmates earn through demonstration of appropriate and responsible behavior. The objective of this system is for inmates to earn privileges as opposed to automatically receiving them, while being encouraged to abide by rules, participate in work and program assignments, and actively work towards constructive behavioral change.

In January 1996, ECF assumed its original role of housing multi-custody level inmates and was no longer designated as a parole violator facility.

The role of the Ellsworth Correctional Facility (ECF) is to incarcerate multi-custody level inmates as punishment for their criminal behavior. Tantamount to our mission is to provide for community, employee and inmate safety. Furthermore, the facility also plays an integral role in reducing crime and its associated costs by providing inmates with a means to improve their conditions through involvement in traditional correctional programming, faith-based activities, cognitive-based activities, exposure to "real life" skills and effective staff-inmate interaction. Moreover, the inmate population is required to participate in a variety of facility-support and community-based work activities. Our goal is to involve inmates in a combination of therapeutic programs, work activities and job readiness programs to ultimately prepare them for release and promote accountable and responsible thinking and actions.