The primary responsibility of the Kansas Department of Corrections is the safety of the public, staff and inmates. Inmates are encouraged to report any safety concerns to corrections staff who are available 24 hours a day. If at any time an inmate does not feel safe, the inmate should speak with a staff person or fill out a confidential Form-9.

Friends and family who have concerns or who are told of an inmate’s safety concerns also are encouraged to contact the KDOC. An inmate has several options to report sexual misconduct whether by another inmate or staff. Inmates can report sexual misconduct to any staff member, through a Form-9 or by calling the KDOC’s sexual abuse helpline by dialing #50 from any inmate phone.

All helpline calls are free, confidential and may be anonymous. Family members or friends should report in-custody sexual misconduct by calling the KDOC’s toll-free confidential line at 1-888-317-8204.

Callers to this number also may remain anonymous. 

Is protective custody available?
Protective custody is the removal of an inmate from the general population to a secure cell for their personal safety. If an inmate is determined to have a valid safety concern and no reasonable alternative is available, an inmate can be moved into protective custody.  

How do family and friends file a complaint or voice their concerns to staff?
All issues should first be attempted to be resolved at the facility. You may ask to speak with the unit team manager or staff in the Warden’s office. If the issue remains unresolved, you may contact the KDOC’s central office and speak with the Secretary’s designee for issues relating to constituent and inmate grievances. Please call (785) 746-7542 or e-mail, kdoc_pub@ks.gov.

What about staff sexual misconduct?
The KDOC has a zero tolerance policy with regard to staff sexual misconduct and inappropriate staff/inmate relationships. Staff sexual misconduct includes sexual abuse or attempted sexual abuse, sexual contact, sexual assault, unlawful sexual relations and sexual harassment. It also includes conversations or correspondence that suggest or demonstrate a romantic or intimate relationship between an inmate and an employee. Employees and contract personnel who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary action, including dismissal. In addition to a zero tolerance policy with regard to staff sexual misconduct and inappropriate staff/inmate relationships, K.S.A. 21-3520 prohibits “unlawful sexual relations” between staff and inmates. Unlawful sexual relations includes “engaging in consensual sexual intercourse, lewd fondling or touching, or sodomy.” Unlawful sexual relations is a level 5 felony offense. 

What is segregation?
An inmate can either be placed in the Segregation Unit or the Intensive Management Unit (IMU) for several reasons including: protective custody, isolation to prevent the spread of communicable disease, to prevent self-harm or mutilation, critical monitoring of potentially suicidal inmates, to protect the inmate population from identified predators, as part of a disciplinary sanction, or for separation of inmates who have conflicts with each other. In these units, inmates have tighter restrictions of movement but are still allowed such things as religious guidance and exercise periods. 

Is the KDOC compliant with standards established under the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA)?
Please review the KDOC's PREA Data section for up-to-date information.

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