A volunteer is one who enters service of his/her own free will.  At WCF that service is to selflessly perform acts of kindness and to offer time and talents voluntarily to benefit others, primarily the inmates of WCF.  The State of Kansas provides for the basic human needs of food and lodging, in addition to basic educational and vocational services to assist inmates to become productive, law-abiding citizens upon their release.  However, due to budgetary constraints, staffing is not available to provide many other services which can benefit offenders. That is where volunteers can greatly assist.

What is Needed?

Activities and programs for which volunteers are needed include:

Art classes  -  Music  - Library assistance  

Bible study  -  Religious activities  -  Clerical assistance  -  Counseling

Alcoholics Anonymous  - Narcotics Anonymous  -  Mentoring   

Sports - Reaching Out From Within (offender self-help)

If you prefer, you may assist by donating appropriate books, music, DVD's, or worship-related items (i.e.-communion supplies).  You may also donate art supplies, dog food, pet supplies, etc.  All donated materials must be given to the Volunteer Coordinator for approval prior to usage by inmates.

How do I volunteer?

There is no minimum time, so whether you are willing to donate a few hours a month or several hours a week, we welcome your interest and assistance.  The criteria for becoming a volunteer are:

• Willingness to serve others selflessly
• Willing to work in a multi-cultural environment with respect for others
• Be at least 21 years old
• Be of good character, willing to model positive citizenship
• Not be on any inmate's visiting list
• Have no recent felony convictions
• Must pass a background check
• Willing to comply with rules and regulations
• Willing to complete required training and work under the direct supervision of the facility Chaplain

Volunteer Training

Training for volunteer service occurs in February, June, August, and October.  The training sessions are from 8:00 am to noon. 

If you would like to volunteer for any religious or programmatic offerings, or if you have any questions, call

WCF Chaplain & Volunteer Coordinator, 620-221-6660, ext. 56026

If you would like to volunteer to assist with activities such as sporting events, art, library, or holiday activities, call

Activities Specialist, 620-221-6660, ext. 56256

Overview | Visitor Information | History | Warden
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Consecutive sentence
If an offender has more than one sentence, consecutive means that each sentence is to be served one following the other without interruption.

Concurrent Sentence
If an offender has more that one sentence, concurrent means that each sentence is served at the same time.

Determinate sentence
This is the sentence in which the offender is given a set amount of time to serve. It is expressed in terms of a number of months. An offender who is convicted of an offense committed on or after July 1, 1993 will receive a determinate sentence. The offender will not see the parole board unless the crime was 1st Degree Murder or Treason.

Indeterminate sentence
This is the sentence in which the offender is sentenced to serve a term expressed as a range of years, e.g., 1 to 5 years, 3 to 10 years, 5 to 20 years, etc. Such offenders may be released on parole, and must be released on their conditional release date as explained below. An inmate’s initial parole eligibility is determined by subtracting the amount of good time they earn and retain from their minimum sentence. For example: If an inmate is sentenced to a term of 10-30 years earns and retains all of their available good time, they are first parole eligible at five years. An offender who committed an offense before July 1, 1993 will receive an indeterminate sentence.

Conditional release
Conditional release is a date established as a function of state law and is determined by subtracting the amount of good time they earn and retain from their maximum sentence. This is the date on which the offender must be released by state law, without a discretionary release decision from the Kansas Parole Board.  The offender will then be supervised by a Parole Officer. For example: If an inmate is sentenced to a term of 10-30 years earns and retains all of their available good time, they are first parole eligible at five years and reach their conditional release date at 15 years.

Post-release supervision
This is the period of time during which an offender serving a determinate sentence is supervised in the community following release from the prison portion of the offender’s sentence. Like the prison portion of the sentence, it is also expressed in terms of a set number of months. Offenders on postrelease supervision are supervised by Parole Officers.

Sentence Discharge/Maximum Sentence Date
This is the date on which the offender has served all of their sentence and will be released from any further obligation on the sentence, and no longer be supervised by the Kansas Department of Corrections. It is initially determined according to the sentence given to the offender by the sentencing court, but in the case of determinate sentences, may be modified to an earlier date by earning and award of good time while on postrelease supervision (see definition for “good time”). In the case of indeterminate sentences, the Kansas Parole Board may grant an early discharge of the sentence, generally based upon the offender’s compliance with conditions of parole supervision for a period of at least one year.

Good time
Inmates who demonstrate good work and behavior are eligible to earn good time credits which decrease part of the term of their incarceration. Inmates sentenced under the indeterminate sentencing structure are eligible to earn good time credits at a rate of 50% (one day earned for one day served). Inmates sentenced under the determinate sentencing structure are eligible to earn good time credits at a rate of either 15% or 20%, depending on the date the crime was committed. Offenders sentenced under the determinate sentencing structure are also eligible to earn good time credits during their period of postrelease supervision at a rate of 50%. Good time credits may be withheld or forfeited for failure to comply with rules and regulations, resulting in the inmate remaining in prison for a longer period of time. Good time credits withheld or forfeited on postrelease supervision will result in the offender remaining under supervision for a longer period of time.

Program Credit 
Program credits are available to inmates serving sentences for crimes committed on or after January 1, 2008, and are limited to inmates serving non-drug severity level 4 through 10 crimes or drug severity level 3 or 4 crimes. Program credits can decrease the inmate’s term of incarceration up to 60 days. Credits are available upon successful completion of a general education diploma (GED), a technical or vocational training program, a substance abuse treatment program, or any other program designated by the Secretary of Corrections which has been shown to reduce offender risk after release. Sex offender treatment programs are excluded. Credit can only be received once, and can be forfeited.

Work Release
The Department of Corrections operates work release programs in Wichita, Hutchinson and Topeka. While an inmate is participating in the program, they continue to reside at the correctional facility but are employed in the community. The inmates at the Wichita and Hutchinson work release programs are eligible to attend church unescorted by staff.

Community Service Work program
Minimum custody inmates at all correctional facilities except Wichita Work Release Facility may be assigned to a community service work detail. These crews are supervised by specially trained staff and are assigned to projects that include construction, maintenance, lawn care, snow removal, and more for local units of government, other state agencies, and eligible not-for-profit organizations. Offenders serving a sentence for conviction of a sexually violent offense are not eligible for assignment until such time as they have completed Sex Offender Treatment Program and are also determined not to be high-risk according to KDOC assessment.

Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP)
Provides a three-phase approach (orientation, treatment and transition) of evaluating and treating sexual offenders committed to the custody of the KDOC. Candidates for the program are inmates who have been convicted of a sex offense or a sexually motivated offense. The program is 18 months in duration, and is based on a cognitive, relapse prevention model.

The community-based sex offender treatment program for offenders on parole and postrelease supervision focuses on relapse prevention skills training, and provides both basic treatment and aftercare protocols.

Substance Abuse Treatment
Facility based substance abuse treatment provides inmates with a continuum of treatment services to assist them in overcoming their dependence on and abuse of alcohol and other drugs. The department offers several levels of substance abuse treatment, including therapeutic communities.

Community based Substance abuse treatment services for offenders on parole and postrelease supervision include transitional therapeutic community residential placements and outpatient counseling.

Theraputic Community (TC)
The facility based TC program provides a structured living and treatment environment for offenders with substance abuse problems. The program ranges from 6 to18 months (depending on the location and each individual’s treatment needs) and contains three phases - orientation, treatment and transition. The program emphasizes cognitive restructuring and graduated incentives within its treatment curriculum.

Inmates in the TC program, are separated from the general inmate population and create their own pro-social community. As they move through the treatment program, the inmates are able to help new members of the community who have not yet learned those attitudes and behaviors.

An additional required feature of the therapeutic community treatment concept includes a community-based component for offenders on parole or postrelease supervision. The Transitional Therapeutic Community (TTC) services are an extension of therapeutic community methods and objectives.

Sex Offender Treatment and Substance Abuse Treatment services are provided under contracts between the Kansas Department of Corrections and DCCCA, Inc. of Lawrence, Kansas and Mirror, Inc. of Newton, Kansas.

Community residential beds (CRBs)
The CRBs provide structured living for offenders who are just being released from prison and who lack a suitable parole plan or for those on post-incarceration supervision who have encountered difficulties. The focus of the CRBs is to encourage the offender’s successful return to the community.

Community residential beds are located in Kansas City, Wichita, and Topeka.

Custody Levels

• Special Management - This describes an offender who is in prison who, because of either a short-term or long-term condition surrounding his/her incarceration, requires segregation from the general population. Housing within a segregation unit and highly structured movement within that unit is required. The inmate is out of his/her cell 1 hour out of every 24 hours.
• Maximum Custody – Describes an inmate who is most suitable for housing at a maximum-security facility and whose movement and activities within that facility are highly structured and closely monitored.
• Medium Custody – Describes an inmate that is most suitable for housing at a medium or maximum-security facility. Within the facility assigned, activities and movements are moderately controlled and structured.
• Minimum Custody – Describes an inmate who is appropriate for housing at any level of security, with minimum security preferred.

Clinical Services Report
An evaluation of the offender’s current mental health and risk level.

Parole
Parole is when the parole board decides to release an offender from prison who is serving an indeterminate sentence once the offender is eligible for parole. The offender will then be under the supervision of a parole officer until the sentence is complete or the offender is sent back to prison for any reason. The Parole Board may re-parole offenders at its discretion.

Parole Decisions
Inmates sentenced under the indeterminate sentencing law will be eligible to see the Parole Board to ask for release on parole under Department of Corrections supervision. The Parole Board can parole, pass, or continue this decision.

• Pass - The Parole Board can issue a “pass”, which is a denial of parole. When issuing a pass, the Parole Board will also decide on a period of time until the offender will be again considered for parole. The Board can pass an offender for up to 10 years in some cases, depending on the severity of the crime and the length of the sentence.
• Continue - The Parole Board may “continue” the decision, which is postponing making a decision to parole or pass the inmate. The KPB may request a variety of additional information regarding the offender's risk and re-entry plans.
• Full Board Review - Often, offenders do not receive a decision immediately following their case for a full board review.  Full board review is a group-based problem solving approach utilized by the KPB to present a comprehensive overview of a case to all KPB members.  The KPB utilizes the Full Board Review process for inmates with life sentences under possible consideration for parole or for the purpose of long-term planning, any high-profile case which has strong opposition or media interest, sex offenders with the potential to be reviewed for civil commitment as a sexually violent predator, all extended passes where there is dissent among KPB members, and any other case requiring problem-solving perspective.

PO
This is the abbreviation for Parole Officer. The Parole Officer is the staff person from the Kansas Department of Corrections who will be supervising the offender while the offender is on parole or postrelease supervision.

• Criminal History
• Education/Employment
• Financial
• Family/Marital
• Accommodation
• Leisure/recreation
• Companions
• Alcohol/drug problems
• Emotional/personal
• Attitudes/orientation

The goal of classifying offenders in the community is to reduce the risk of the offender committing new crimes and creating more victims.

You have probably heard the terms, minimum, medium and maximum security. All inmates who are in prison are classified according to the risk they present to themselves, other inmates, staff and the community, based upon a standard set of objective criteria.

The criteria include:

• Length of minimum sentence
• Length of time remaining to serve
• Criminal behavior involved in the current offense
• Past criminal behavior
• Escape history
• Escape characteristics
• Special skills and associates
• Institutional adjustment
• Behavioral characteristics (suicidal, predatory, etc.)
• Special needs (protective custody, segregation, etc.)
• Detainers

Also considered, in addition to the above criteria, are such issues as inmate performance in sex offender's treatment, detainers, absconding supervised release, gang involvement, pending disciplinary issues and civil commitment issues. 

If an offender is returned to prison for violating his/her conditions of post release supervision, they will be classified as minimum custody if:

• the violation is not a new criminal conviction, and
• they were not classified as maximum security or special management prior to their most recent release from prison; and
• they are within 90 days of their scheduled release: or
• if an exception is made in accordance with KDOC policies.

2. Laws : I shall obey all federal and state laws, municipal or county ordinances, including the Kansas Violent Offender Registration Act. If the Kansas Offender Registration Act is applicable to me, I will register with the local Sheriff's Office within 10 days of arrival in the county of residence upon moving to any other county in Kansas. Changes in residence within the same county requires written notification to the Sheriff's Office. If I am arrested for any reason, I will notify my parole officer at the earliest allowable opportunity.

3. Weapons : I will not own, possess, purchase, receive, sell or transport any firearms, ammunition or explosive device, or any device designed to expel or hurl a projectile capable of causing injury to persons or property, or any weapon prohibited by law.

4. Personal Conduct : I will not engage in assaultive activities, violence, or threats of violence of any sort.

5. Narcotics/Alcohol : I will not illegally possess, use, or traffic in any controlled substance, narcotics or other drugs as defined by law except as prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner. I will not consume any mind-altering substances. I agree and consent to submit to a blood, Breathalyzer or urine test at the direction of the parole officer. At no time will I consume intoxicating liquor, including beer or wine, without written permission from my parole officer. At no time will I become intoxicated from the consumption of any substance, including, but not limited to, wine, beer, glue, or paint.

6. Association : I will not associate with persons engaged in illegal activity and will obtain written permission from the parole officer and institutional director to visit or correspond with inmates of any correctional institution.

7. Employment : I agree to secure and maintain reasonable, steady employment within 45 days of my release from prison or residential treatment unless excused for medical reasons or an extension of time is given by my parole officer. I agree to notify my employer of my current and prior (non-expunged) adult felony convictions and status as an offender.

8. Education : I agree to make progress toward or successfully complete the equivalent of a secondary education if I have not completed such by the time of my release and I am capable, as determined by my parole officer.

9. Costs : I agree to pay restitution, court costs, supervision fees, and other costs as directed by my parole officer.

10. Treatment/Counseling : I agree to comply with my relapse prevention plan and the recommendations of any treatment or counseling, or assessment program which I have completed during my incarceration or while under supervision. I agree to follow any directives given to me by my parole officer regarding evaluations, placement and/or referrals. I agree to submit to polygraph examinations as directed by my parole officer and/ or treatment provider.

11. Victim : I agree to have no contact with the victim(s) in my case(s) or the victim's family by any means including, but not limited to, in person, by phone, via computer, in writing, or through a third party without the advance permission of my parole officer.

12. Search : I agree to subject to a search by parole officer(s) of my person, residence, and any other property under my control.

13. Special Conditions : I agree to abide by the special conditions(s) set forth below, as well as to comply with instructions which may be given or conditions imposed by my parole officer from time to time as may be governed by the special requirements of my individual situation.

Crime victims/survivors often want to know about an offender's behavior while in prison. When an inmate breaks a rule in a correctional facility, a disciplinary report can be made. There are three classes of offenses and penalities:

Class I offenses - these are very serious in nature and may include crimes that would be considered felonies in Kansas and the United States. Threatening or intimidating any person, fighting and disobeying orders are examples of a Class I offense.

The penalty for a Class I offense may include any, all or any combination of the following:

• Disciplinary segregation, not to exceed 45 days;
• loss of "good time credits," not to exceed six months;
• extra work for up to two hours per day, not to exceed 30 days;
• restriction to inmate's own cell, not to exceed a period of 10 days;
• restriction from privileges, not to exceed 60 days;
• a fine not to exceed $20.00;
• restitution; or
• an oral or written reprimand.

 Class II offenses - these are of moderate seriousness and include crimes that would be considered misdemeanors in Kansas and the United States. Gambling, Insubordination and Disrespect are examples of Class II offenses.

The penalty for a Class II offese may include any, all or any combination of the following:

• Disciplinary segregation, not to exceed 15 days;
• loss of "good time credits," not to exceed three months;
• extra work for up to two hours per day, not to exceed 20 days;
• restriction to inmate's own cell, not to exceed a period of seven days;
• restriction from privileges, not to exceed 30 days;
• a fine, not to exceed $15.00;
• restitution; or
• an oral or written reprimand.

Class III offenses - these are of a less serious nature. Any violation of any published order from the secretary of corrections or warden that is not designated as a Class I or Class II offense belongs in this category. Unsanitary practices is an example of a Class III offense.

The penalty for a Class III offense may be any, all or any combination of the following: 

• Restriction to inmate's own cell, not to exceed three days;
• restriction from privileges, not to exceed 20 days;
• extra work for up to two hours per day, not to exceed 10 days;
• a fine not to exceed $10.00;
• restitution; or
• an oral or written reprimand.

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The Office of Victim Services is victim-focused and safety-focused. We began with the basic service of victim notification and have expanded to provide a network of services that attempt to lessen the impact on crime victims as much as possible. Crime victims do not have control over the victimization that another person has chosen to perpetrate and victims/survivors deserve to be heard. Giving victims/survivors a voice in the system and increasing their safety is our focus.

As advocates for victims and for the success of offenders, we continue to support the risk-reduction focused system that the Department of Corrections has created. When considering the safety of crime victims and the public in general, simply containing and then releasing offenders without addressing the roots of the criminal behavior is not the safest option. Risk reduction seeks to reduce the likelihood of negative behavior regardless of the environment. Victim safety is a central and primary factor to the work of reducing offender risk and victim’s voices in the process are imperative. We strive to bring balance to the system.

If there is a topic or service that you would like to know more about, please let us know.

Office of Victim Services, KDOC

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