Warden's Page
James Heimgartner
Warden
Welcome to the El Dorado Correctional Facility (EDCF), Kansas’ newest correctional facility. The facility was constructed as a result of a 1988 class action lawsuit challenging prison conditions. Former Governor Mike Hayden recommended, and the 1989 Legislature authorized, the $58 million construction of El Dorado Correctional Facility. The facility was originally constructed to house 640 inmates with the potential for future expansion of 725 additional beds. In 1995, a 115-bed, medium-custody dormitory was created by modifying an existing industrial building. In 2001, two additional cell houses were activated at the central unit at a cost of $17.5 million. EDCF's Central Unit opened in January 1991.
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History (Central Unit) |
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1991 |
The facility opened in January 1991. |
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EDCF was consolidated administratively with the El Dorado Correctional Work Facility and Toronto Correctional Facility. The 105 bed U-Dorm Unit was put on-line at the El Dorado Correctional Facility |
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1998 |
The first correctional industry building project financed with private funds was erected and donated to the state. The project involved expansion of an existing building. |
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1999 |
The Legislature approved construction of two new cellhouses for the purpose of transferring the male RDU function to EDCF. |
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2001 |
Construction was completed on two 128-cell living units suitable for single-cell occupancy of maximum-custody inmates or double-cell occupancy of medium-custody inmates. In March, the male RDU function was transferred from Topeka to EDCF. |
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2002 |
Century Manufacturing, the private correctional industry at EDCF, expanded its operations at the facility, currently employing up to 107 inmates. |
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2003 |
A spiritual life center was approved and built with $1.1 million dollars that was donated for the construction. C Cellhouse was utilized as the third segregation unit. |
| 2006 |
Pioneer Balloon became a private industry at EDCF |
| 2009 | In February 2009, the EDCF East Unit suspended operations and in May 2009, the EDCF North Unit closed. |
The facility is located one mile east of El Dorado on State Highway 54. The correctional facility has 429 full-time employees and has an operating budget of $23.7 million dollars. The average cost to house an inmate for one year at EDCF is $22,837. EDCF is a multi-custody correctional facility with a capacity to house 1,178 inmates and it is designed to house special management, maximum and medium custody inmates. Inmates assigned to the Central Unit are usually repeat offenders with a history of violent behavior.
In fulfilling the mission of the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC), the role of the El Dorado Correctional Facility (EDCF) is to provide a safe and secure working environment for staff and volunteers, a safe and humane environment for inmates to live and work, and to protect the general public from harm while an offender is serving his court imposed sentence of incarceration. The facility's philosophy is that offenders are sentenced to incarceration as punishment, not for punishment. During an offender's incarceration, it is our responsibility to increase offenders' abilities and motivations to practice responsible, pro-social, crime-free behavior through the provision of programs and services designed to assist with both risk reduction and reentry efforts.
EDCF also provides secure housing and management of offenders assigned to long-term involuntary segregation in the State of Kansas. It is our responsibility to manage these offenders safely and assist them in transitioning to general population, where appropriate. The facility also serves as the intake facility for all male inmates sentenced to the custody of the Secretary of Corrections. The EDCF Reception and Diagnostic Unit performs physical, social, and psychological evaluations of offenders to assess risk and recommend appropriate therapeutic interventions.
It is certain that 97 percent of the inmate population will be released to society and it is the staff’s responsibility to promote opportunities for inmates to change their thinking and behavior. This is accomplished through effective role modeling, holding inmates accountable for inappropriate behavior and reinforcing positive actions that result in better prison adjustment and preparation for their ultimate release.
EDCF is distinguished from other correctional facilities in the state because it houses the most dangerous and recalcitrant inmates assigned to long term involuntary segregation. Also, all male offenders sentenced to the custody of the Secretary of Corrections are received and processed through the EDCF Reception and Diagnostic Facility where they are assigned a custody classification, appropriate programs, and a permanent housing assignment. The management and activities at EDCF impact the entire corrections system due to the specialized nature of our operation.
Reception and Diagnostic Unit
Deanne Donley, RDU Administrator
Effective February 2001, all males sentenced to the custody of the Secretary of Corrections are sent to the El Dorado Correctional Facility’s Reception and Diagnostic Unit (RDU). The RDU averages about 3,100 new admissions annually and has a bed capacity of 320. Immediately upon arrival to the RDU, an evaluation is conducted. This evaluation provides for the psychological, social, academic and vocational, and substance abuse assessment for all newly received male inmates in the Kansas Department of Corrections. When appropriate, a more detailed psychiatric evaluation is also performed.
The completed evaluation is comprised of examination data, medical test results, and remedial recommendations provided by professional intake staff. The RDU process is normally completed within 14 working days and offenders are transferred to an appropriate facility within six to eight weeks.
Long-term Involuntary Segregation
The El Dorado Correctional Facility is unique in that it houses up to 384 special management inmates in long term segregation. These inmates are considered to be the State’s most violent, aggressive, predatory and recalcitrant inmates. They present a threat to themselves or to others and require lockdown status for 23 hours per day. Some of the reasons inmates are placed on long term segregation status are as follows: displaying consistent bad behavior, demonstrates leadership status in security threat groups; demonstrating predatory behavior; has a history of self-mutilation; is deemed to be an escape risk; and/or has been convicted under the capital murder statute. Most of the batteries on correctional officers occur in the three segregation units.
