MEDIA RELEASE

August 17, 2017

Contact:
Samir Arif
785-813-1726
Samir.Arif@ks.gov

Governor Brownback, Kansas Department of Corrections announce
increased pay for state’s correctional officers under new pay plan 

El Dorado – Governor Sam Brownback was joined by Corrections Secretary Joe Norwood at El Dorado Correctional Facility today to announce changes to the Kansas Department of Corrections’ pay structure to address correctional officer retention and increase recruitment of new candidates. 

Under the new structure, all uniformed corrections staff will receive an approximately 5 percent increase. In addition, the hiring rate for entry-level corrections officers will rise from $13.95 per hour to $14.66 per hour. At El Dorado Correctional Facility, the hiring rate will rise from $13.95 per hour to $15.75 per hour. All uniformed staff making less than the newly established hiring rates will have their pay increased to the new rates, resulting in a majority of uniformed staff receiving total increases of at least 10 percent. 

Gov. Brownback described the pay increase as a significant first step towards making pay competitive in an effort to retain experienced correctional officers at the state’s correctional facilities where vacancy rates have increased amid dwindling new officer recruitment. 

“First and foremost, I want to thank the men and women of the Department of Corrections for all of their hard work,” Gov. Brownback said. “This job is an exceptionally difficult one--and the state appreciates their sacrifices.” 

The state will notify union officials today to offer an opportunity for discussion regarding the effective date of the increases.  

 “Addressing recruitment and retention will require commitment from the legislature, and I encourage them to work with the Department of Corrections in the 2018 legislation session,” Gov. Brownback said. 

Corrections Secretary Norwood thanked Governor Brownback for his support of the Department of Corrections staff and for personally addressing the critical need at the state’s correctional facilities. 

“I also would like to thank the Kansas DOC staff for the great work they do day-in and day-out to the keep the citizens of Kansas safe.” he said. “Correctional work is difficult and it takes special people who are willing to take on such an important public safety role.” 

Norwood said the department looks forward to working with the Governor’s office and the legislature on continuing to strengthen compensation for DOC staff to include uniformed, non-uniformed and parole staff who contribute so greatly to public safety in Kansas.

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