MEDIA ALERT
January 21, 2011

For more information, contact:
Sherriene Jones-Sontag
785/368-7138 (Office)
785/969.7278 (Mobile)
 Media@ks.gov

Topeka – Kansas Governor Sam Brownback named Ray Roberts as his Secretary of the Kansas Department of Corrections.  Roberts has managed a variety of correctional facilities, inmate populations and programs during his 35 years of correctional experience.  He is currently the Warden of the El Dorado Correctional Facility. 

“Ray Roberts has a reputation of getting things done effectively and efficiently and working well with correctional stakeholders.  He knows how prisons operate, how inmates behave and react and how to improve security and reduce employee turnover,” Gov. Brownback said. 

Brownback also pointed to Roberts’ work with two non-profit organizations to bring spiritual life centers to the Ellsworth and El Dorado Correctional Facilities at little or no cost to Kansas taxpayers.

“I believe it is important not only to ensure a prison is well-fortified but to also give the men and women serving their time the opportunity to change the path their lives are on.  The spiritual life centers that Ray helped build here in Kansas are impacting inmates’ lives and giving them a chance to break the cycle,” Brownback said. 

Roberts began his career at the Mississippi State Penitentiary as a corrections officer in 1975.  Since then he has served as a correctional counselor, staff development coordinator, deputy warden, director of faith-based ministry, warden of five correctional facilities and deputy secretary of facility management. 

“I am excited to become a part of the Brownback administration because he is a man of faith and I believe in his plans to improve the State of Kansas,” Roberts said.  “I have dedicated my life to the field of corrections for the last 35 years and feel fortunate to be employed by the Kansas Department of Corrections.  The KDOC has made tremendous strides in the past few years and the system has many professional and dedicated employees who are committed to providing public safety and innovate programs and services for inmates.  I look forward to working with them and taking the correctional system to an even higher level.”

Roberts’ appointment must be confirmed by the Kansas Senate.