Earning a living wage is a cornerstone of success for individuals released from prison. A living wage is a legal means to secure housing and transportation, pay off obligations to courts and victims, access ongoing treatment for substance abuse and mental health needs, and support themselves and their families. This increases the likelihood that an individual can remain crime free while improving the safety of Kansas communities.

KDOC residents who gain a livable wage job upon release are one-third less likely to return to prison.

• KDOC estimates 98% of current residents serving a prison sentence in Kansas will return to the community.

• Over 6,000 persons release from Kansas prisons in a typical year.

• Individuals on post release supervision struggle to find and sustain employment. On June 30, 2020, 37% of males (n=2,021) and 37% of females (n=267) on post release supervision were employed

• KDOC-sponsored research on Kansas prison residents found that a resident’s ability to earn a living wage upon release was improved by:

• Completion of a GED: 6% increase.
• Completion of one or more certification course: 8% increase
• Completion of one college course: 20% increase.
• Holding an industry job six months or longer while incarcerated: 25% increase.

Employers

If you are an employer interested in hiring KDOC residents, email KDOC_CareerCampus@ks.gov
 or call 785-296-3317.

Three Stories

In early 2020, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly visited three private industries that employ KDOC residents. Interviews with the Governor, business owners and residents illustrate the life-changing opportunities these experiences have for residents, and the impact on both the Kansas economy and employers looking for skilled employees.

CSG

CSG + KDOC from Trevor Mowry on Vimeo.

Seat King

KDOC + Seat King from Trevor Mowry on Vimeo.

MAICO

KDOC + Maico from Trevor Mowry on Vimeo.

E-mail
Phone: (620) 221-6660
Fax: (620) 221-9229
1806 Pinecrest Circle
Winfield, KS 67156

Other WCF Contacts

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Wichita Work Release
401 S. Emporia St.
Wichita, KS 67202
Phone: (316) 265-5211 ext. 200 or ext. 232
Fax: (316) 262-5936

Overview | Visitor Information | Programs | History | Warden
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Mustangs on the Move

Since 2001, residents at Hutchinson Correctional Facility have aided the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in alleviating the over-population of wild horses on federal lands in the western United States. Left unchecked, the horses can multiply to the extent that the land would not sustain their numbers, resulting in starvation and other problems for these animals.

Through a cooperative agreement between the BLM and Kansas Correctional Industries (KCI), a self-supporting unit under the direction of the Kansas Department of Corrections, a dozen minimum-custody residents care and train the wild horses with the goal of making them suitable for adoption. The program also provides resident work opportunities that help residents reintegrate back into the community. With the ability to house up to 499 horses, KCI uses donated materials to train horses rounded up by the BLM. KCI also receives a per diem for housing and care of the horses. Each spring, KCI holds a horse auction with the sales benefitting the BLM to continue the program’s funding. Horses not adopted are transferred to long-term holding locations where they live out their lives. The BLM estimates approximately 14,000 wild horses will need to be relocated and held until the current crisis abates.

For more information about the program,
visit the Bureau of Land Management’s web site at:
www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the requirements for adopting a wild horse?
The potential owner must attain an approved application through the BLM. Upon approval, please contact Kansas Correctional Industries at (620) 625-7515, Monday through Friday, for more information.

How much does it cost to adopt an untrained wild horse?
Persons adopting untrained wild horses from Kansas Correctional Industries are charged a $125 fee that is forwarded to the BLM to cover administrative costs.

Can a person purchase a horse that is saddle trained?
Yes. Selected horses that have been saddle trained are available for purchase.

What is the cost of a saddle trained horse?
The current price for a saddle-trained mare or stud horse is $125.

What is considered to be a successful trained horse?

• Easy mounting and dismounting
• Knows the commands for walk, trot, lope and keeps its head and body collected
• Can turn either direction, stop and back up on command
• Can pick up all four feet
• Can load and unload in a four-horse trailer
  
  

Where do I get more information about how to adopt a trained or untrained horse from Kansas Correctional Industries (KCI)?

For more information, please contact:
Kansas Correctional Industries
(620) 625-7515
OR
Bureau of Land Management
(866) 4MUSTANGS

When are horses available for adoption?
Horses are available for adoption through Kansas Correctional Industries Monday through Friday by appointment.

Kansas Correctional Industries | Hutchinson Correctional Facility
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Warden Hazel M. Peterson

Warden Peterson began her career with the Kansas Department of Corrections in November of 1992 when she was hired to work in the kitchen at the Norton Correctional Facility. She remained in food service until May of 1996 when she was selected to serve as a Corrections Counselor I. After serving as a Corrections Counselor I for two years, she was promoted to Corrections Counselor II in May of 1998 and later became a Corrections Manager I in May of 2004. In October of 2010, she was promoted to Corrections Manager II. On February 25, 2018, she was selected to serve as the facility's Deputy Warden and served in this capacity until assuming her new role as Warden in October of 2019. 

Hazel has valuable experience in the development and delivery of cognitive services and programming and has been selected to assist and lead many statewide initiatives aligning with classification processes, re-entry, and cognitive-based programming. She attended Barton County Community College, completed the Kansas Department of Corrections Leadership Academy, and has nearly 30 years of experience in the field of Corrections. 

Overview | Visitor Information | Programs | History | Warden
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Dan Schnurr became the warden at Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF) on June 18, 2016.

Previously, he had served as warden at Ellsworth Correctional Facility (ECF) since June 2011. Schnurr began his career in corrections at Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF) in 1985 as a corrections officer. He rose through the ranks including serving as a corrections specialist, a unit team counselor and a unit team manager. In 2008, Schnurr became HCF's classification administrator. Two years later, he was named HCF's business manager for a brief time before accepting the deputy warden position at ECF.

Overview | Visitor Information | Programs | History | Warden
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Don Langford was appointed Warden of Ellsworth Correctional Facility (ECF) by KDOC Secretary Jeff Zmuda in November 2019.

Since joining the KDOC in 1989 as an Office Assistant at Hutchinson Correctional Facility, Langford has steadily risen through the ranks including serving as a Corrections Officer, Corrections Specialist, Corrections Counselor and Investigations and Intelligence Supervisor, Deputy Warden of Operations and Deputy Warden of Support Services. He was appointed to the Warden position at Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility in October 2016.

Overview | Visitor Information | Programs | History

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