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.
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.
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:
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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The visit may be terminated for other personal contact.
The visit will be terminated if it is apparent that the conduct of the inmate or visitors is disruptive to other visitors.
Animals and minor children cannot be left unattended in a vehicle.
Any inmate convicted of a disciplinary report for any misconduct occurring during a visit or while still on the premises of the visiting room, including the shakedown area of same, will be subject to loss of visiting privileges for such a period as may be determined by the Warden.
Once a disciplinary report is received, the inmate will be placed in non-contact visiting status. This status remains in effect until dismissed or the Warden's administrative review is completed. If the conviction is upheld, the Deputy Warden of Programs will notify the inmate of the visiting suspension which will be a minimum of 90 days and will be effective the date of the completed administrative review.
Parents, guardians and grandparents will be responsible for supervising and controlling the behavior of their children. Cell phones/cameras must be secured in personal vehicles; not to be taken in to the facility.
Visitors are not allowed to talk to inmates through the fence.
Person(s) believed to be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs will not be permitted to visit under any circumstances. Visitors smelling of intoxicating beverages or appearing intoxicated or drugged will be seen by the Enforcement, Apprehensions and Investigations staff or the Shift Supervisor.
If an inmate has a positive urinalysis (UA) or refuses to provide a sample for testing, or is hoarding medication, or any violation related to unauthorized drugs or narcotics, he will be placed on non-contact visiting for a minimum of 90 days.
If the inmate is found not guilty at the disciplinary hearing, contact visits will be reinstated immediately. At the end of the 90 days, an inmate may send a request to the Deputy Warden of Program's Office to have his contact visits reinstated. Should an inmate receive a second report in a 12-month period, visiting privileges will be suspended for six months. Each additional report within the 12-month period will mean another six months of suspension.
All inmates will wear suitable undergarments and state issued attire at all times to visit. In no case will an inmate be permitted to attend a visit with any sex organ uncovered, it must be covered by a suitable undergarment or alternative garment approved by a physician.
Overview | Visitor Information | Programs | History | Warden
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]]>Visitor Clothing | Visitor Conduct | Allowable Visitor Items | Allowable Inmate Items | Outside Visiting Area Rules | Requesting Special Visits | Directions & Transportation Information | Frequently Asked Questions
- All exceptions to this policy other than those already listed in this General Order must be approved by the Warden, one of the Deputy Wardens or the inmate's unit team when it is shown that such an exception would be in the best interest of the inmate and the facility.
- Procedures for placing a prospective visitor's name on an inmate's list is outlined in General Order 16, 101, section V.
Visitors may be on the visiting list of one inmate only. The only exception to this policy shall be in the event more than one inmate and the prospective visitors are all members of the same immediate family.
Each visitor must present one item of positive identification at the time of each visit. This identification must include a photograph of the visitor. Children over the age of sixteen years of age must also have a picture identification card.
Visitors are permitted to accept inmate-fabricated goods and craft items. All such transfers of craft items must be conducted pursuant to General Order 9, 103.
The facility will not accept monies in any form brought in by a visitor for deposit in an inmate account. Money orders or cashier checks payable to the Inmate's name and number may be mailed to the inmate for deposit to his account. (P.O. Box 2 - Lansing, KS 66043)
Due to limited waiting/visiting areas, visitors are urged not to bring non-visitors. Normally, a visitor must have traveled a distance of 150 miles or more to be considered for a courtesy visit. (See Special Visits) Courtesy visits are one-time only and are for immediate family members only.
A member of the clergy, with an approved clergy visit application for a specified inmate (and that inmate only), may visit for up to one hour during regular visiting hours consistent with the inmates security level without charge of visiting time for the inmate. If so requested by a clergy member, or by any other person having a statutory right to consult, the visit may take place in a private consultation room.
Volunteer participants in inmate activities programs may not participate in the inmate visitation program. Exceptions to this policy include public officials, M-2/W-2 sponsors, and members of the M-2/W-2 program staff. Ex-employees including contract employees shall not be permitted visits with any inmate, except n a professional capacity, for a minimum of two (2) years after such employment is terminated, and thereafter, will have visitation strictly at the discretion of the warden upon application of the former employee or inmate.
Minor children who are immediate family members of the inmate may visit if accompanied by an adult on the inmate's visiting list who has been given the power of attorney by the parent of legal guardian and or a notarized letter vesting the person with authority to transport and supervise the minor child on the premises of the facility for the purpose of visiting an inmate, and in those instances where there is not a power of attorney, an adult who is temporary care giver of a minor child may authorize visits by the child after providing an affidavit as to their status and relationship to the child and inmate. The warden or designee will determine if the visit by the minor child will be permitted.
- Visitors are responsible for supervising and controlling the behavior of their children. This means that children are not be allowed to wander around the visiting room or make loud noise enough to disturb other visitors. Children who cannot behave must be removed from the visiting room. Visiting officers will warn the visitors of disruptive children twice before asking the visitors to remove the children from the visiting room.
- Children over the age of five are not allowed to sit on the inmate's knee or lap.
Ex-inmates are prohibited from visiting unless granted permission in advance by the warden. Probationers and parolees may not visit unless granted permission by the warden, and have written authorization from their supervising agent.
If an inmate refuses to see a visitor, that fact will be stated in writing, and noted in the inmate's visiting record.
A visitor will not be permitted to visit more than one inmate at any visitation time unless the visitor is a member of the immediate family of more than one inmate.
Once a person's name is removed at the inmate's or visitor's request, that person will not be added to the same or another inmate's visiting list for a minimum of 180 days.
On arrival and departure from the facility, all visitors must sign the facility's visiting register. Visitors will be required to show ID upon arrival and departure.
All visitors are subject to search in accordance with IMPP 012-115. Visitors who refuse the search may be subject to loss of visiting privileges.
All visitors must secure personal articles prior to being granted access to the visiting areas.
- Visitors for the maximum, medium and minimum security units must secure personal articles in the lockers provided in the Visitors Reception area.
- Visitors who visit at the medium or LCF-East must secure personal items in their own vehicles if lockers are not available. Such visitors may retain their vehicle keys and required identification while in the visiting area.
- Visitors may not return to their lockers after their visit has started. Visitors will not be allowed to leave the visiting room or reception to go to their vehicle unless they have authorization from the visiting officer in charge.
Vending machines in the visiting room may be used by visitors.
- The facility will not provide change for use in these machines.
- As these machines are the property of private vendors, the facility and the facility employees are not responsible for losses incurred due to mechanical malfunctions.
- All losses must be reported to the vendor.
- Inmates can handle tokens.
Attorneys are not permitted to carry any items or papers into the visiting area unless:
- They are the legal representative of the inmate they visit; and,
- They have prior approval of the deputy warden for programs on the advice of the facility's attorney.
NOTICE T0 VISITORS
AS OF MARCH 1, 2008All persons entering a Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) facility are subject to search, including an electronic (metal detector and parcel x-ray machine) and/or physical search. Any individual who refuses to be searched will be denied entry into the facility.
To help prevent weapons and other dangerous objects from being introduced to a correctional facility, highly sensitive metal detectors have been installed at each KDOC facility. The metal detectors used by KDOC are safe and do not affect or interfere with the operations of pacemakers or defibulators but may be more sensitive than those used at courthouses, airports or other public applications. The following procedure may already be in effect at some facilities but will be fully effective for all visits on and after April 1, 2008.
In order to successfully clear the metal detector, you will need to be mostly free of metal objects. You will be asked to place all personal items on a tray for inspection. Be prepared to remove your watch, jewelry, belts, badges, suspenders, hair accessories and/or eyeglasses. Buckles, metal stays, snaps, and under-wire bras may also cause the detector to activate. It may also be necessary that you remove your shoes.
Please note that some medical devices that are worn or some medical implants may activate a metal detector. Orthopedic implants such as hip and knee replacements will almost always activate an alarm.
In addition, implanted plates, screws, wires, nails, rods or pacemakers may be detected as well. If you have a medical condition that may prevent you from clearing a walk-through metal detector, you will need to provide the facility with written documentation from a physician stating the condition(s) that may possibly prevent you from clearing the metal detector. For persons unable to walk through the metal detector (non-ambulatory) written documentation from a physician will be required. The documentation must be provided prior to entry into the facility.
In order to expedite the entry process, all persons entering the facility should avoid excess jewelry, metal hair accessories, and clothing with metal affixed (buckles, snaps, stays etc.). Individuals will be given three opportunities to clear the walk through metal detector. If the person has not cleared after three attempts a hand held metal detector will be used. A pat search of the area where a medical device is located may be required in order to determine that no other items are in that area. Persons needing handheld detection may have to wait until others are processed through the walk-through detector. Please expect a delay if you are unable to successfully clear the walk-through metal detector. Individuals who do not clear the walk through and hand held metal detectors will not be permitted to visit on that day.
The Kansas Department of Corrections is committed to operating safe and secure correctional facilities. While we understand that searches can be an inconvenience, they are critical to the department’s mission. We ask that you cooperate with our mission by reporting to the facility with as little metal or other items on your person as possible.
Overview | Visitor Information | Programs | History | Warden
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The resident obtains the request form from the unit counselor and mails it to those he/she wishes to place on his/her visiting list. The prospective visitor will need to complete the form and mail it back to the facility for review and approval. A criminal background check is completed on all visitors. The visiting rules are sent out with the request form.
Each resident may have a maximum of 20 visitors on his/her list.
No visitors will be allowed into a correctional facility until the application has been approved.
How are visiting privileges determined?
Visitation privileges are determined by the incentive level assigned to each inmate in the following manner. Those inmates assigned to the following incentive levels are provided the following privileges:
Immediate family members are defined as parents, step-parents, siblings, spouses of siblings, half-siblings, step-siblings, children, spouses of children, step-children, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, great grandchildren, great step-grandchildren, spouse, parents of spouse, grandparents, or any person who filled the role of a parent de facto with respect to the offender as confirmed by the warden/superintendent upon review of the social history.
residents, who are married by license or common law, must list their spouse as their primary visitor. Unmarried, residents may declare any person as their primary visitor as long as the person is at least 18 years of age and is not listed as the primary visitor for any other resident. residents may change their primary visitor every six months.
Approved lists are transferable to each facility and remain in effect unless revised by the resident or for administrative cause. Please review all visiting rules supplied by the facility prior to visiting.
What are the visiting hours and rules?
After you have received notification that you have been approved as a visitor, please check with the correctional facility for visiting hours and specific visiting rules.
Can children under 18 years of age visit an resident?
Minor children are permitted to visit if they are approved to be on the resident’s visitation list. The adult who brings the minor child must also be an approved visitor and be the child’s parent or legal guardian. Minor children may not be allowed to visit if the resident is being managed as a sex offender.
Can I be on more than one resident’s visitation list?
Visitors may be on more than one resident’s visiting list if the visitor is an immediate family member to each resident.
Why would my visiting privileges be suspended?
Visits may be denied, suspended or terminated by the shift supervisor on duty for:
Please note: visitors can be searched to prevent the introduction of any item considered to be contraband if taken into or from a facility. This includes cell phones and all tobacco and tobacco-related items.
What if I am a victim of the resident but I would like to visit the resident?
This does not mean that you will not be allowed to visit. If you are a victim of the resident, you must indicate this on your visiting application. The Office of Victim Services (OVS) will contact you for more information. If you have questions about this process, please call OVS toll free at (866) 404-6732.
How do I remove my name from a visitor’s list?
Send a letter with your request for removal, include the resident’s name and KDOC number, to the Visitation Clerk at the correctional facility. For mailing address, visit the facility index page. Visitors removed from a list by their own request or by the resident’s request may not re-apply for visitation for a minimum of 180 days.
What if I’m traveling from out of state to visit but I am not on the list?
Under certain circumstances, the Warden or his designee may authorize a special visit. Requests for special visits are initiated by the resident through the resident's unit team via the Form-9. Circumstances under which special visits may be granted include, but are not limited to:
What kind of identification should I bring with me during my visit?
Visitors must properly identify themselves with picture identification issued by a government agency, such as a driver's license or a state identification card. A copy of an official state-issued birth certificate is acceptable for persons under the age of 16 who cannot produce photo identification.
Non-U.S. citizens who do not have a United States or state government agency picture ID will be required to show a valid passport or visa.
Are residents permitted furloughs for funeral/bedside visits?
No.
Is physical contact allowed during a visit?
Contact during visits is limited to a brief embrace or kiss at the beginning and end of the visit. Hand holding is not allowed. Please see IMPP 10-113 for additional information.
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For more information on training or educational opportunities, please contact our toll-free number at (866) 404-6732 or e-mail.
]]>Inmates have access to coinless telephones at various times throughout the day during yard periods. Each living unit also has specified periods when inmates are allowed to make phone calls during the evening hours. Inmates may establish a telephone list of up to twenty individual phone numbers that they wish to call. They may add or delete numbers on this list only during their 120-day review. Inmate phones, with the exception of conversations with attorneys, are subject to monitoring.
How do I establish an account to telephone an inmate?
The process begins with the inmate who must submit a form at the correctional facility with the numbers the inmate would like to call. The inmate must submit the following information:
Every new number must be verified and activated before the inmate is allowed to call. Numbers with missing information will not be entered into the telephone calling service computer system.
Friends and family may establish accounts by contacting the inmate telephone service provider, ICS Corrections, Inc., to establish a pre-paid account at 1-888-506-8407 or accounts may be set up online at no cost at ICS Corrections, Inc.
Inmates cannot call cell phones unless a pre-paid account is established. This may be done by the family by calling ICS at 1-888-506-8407 to set up a pre-paid collect account for their cell phone. Please call 1-888-506-8407 for other phone questions (i.e., accidental blocks, etc.,).
Chain dialing, 3-way calling, call forwarding, and/or dialing extra digits is not permitted.
Can I provide a calling card?
No. Calling cards are not part of the contract with the inmate telephone service provider.
How can I reach an inmate in an emergency?
In the event of a verifiable emergency, such as a serious illness or death in the family, you may call the facility. During regular business hours, you will be forwarded to the inmate counselor’s office where you can relay the emergency message, and the counselor will speak with the inmate. After hours or on weekends and holidays, verified emergencies will be passed on to the inmate at the earliest possible time.
How do I get my telephone number removed from an inmate’s call list?
Please contact the correctional facility where the inmate is currently housed and report that you would like your number removed. If you are receiving threatening calls from an inmate, please contact the correctional facility and report the calls.
Can I be on an inmate’s call or visiting list if I once worked for the KDOC?
Former employees, former volunteers and former contract workers cannot be added to an inmate’s phone or visiting list within two years of the severance of the individual’s relationship with a correctional facility. Approval of visits after two years is at the discretion of the Warden.
If you need additional information on the inmate telephone process including how to establish an account, please visit the Inmate Communications section and/or review Internal Management Policy and Procedure (IMPP) 10-111 Programs and Services: Inmate Access to Facility and Coinless Telephones.
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