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KJCC's first ever graduates from Aramark Culinary Program

David Thompson — 2024-10-24T20:00:00Z

Congratulations are in order for 3 residents at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex. They are the first ever graduates of the Aramark IN2WORK culinary program at KJCC. The program allows students to learn kitchen basics; food service management; and take a final exam to earn a certification that is recognized throughout the food and restaurant industry. IN2WORK has been well received across the adult population and in this first with KJCC, are seeing the fruits of the labors of many people involved.
KDOC is grateful for our partnership with Aramark and its workers who help instill a vision for opportunities in culinary arts.
We also want to thank the KJCC staff for their support!

KDOC Turns Keys to Old Kansas State Penitentiary/LCF to LHS

David Thompson — 2024-09-09T20:00:00Z

KDOC officially hands over the keys to the old Kansas State Penitentiary/Lansing Correctional Facility to the Lansing Historical Society. Great work by the Kansas Legislature, spearheaded by Senator Jeff Pittman of Leavenworth. Doors open Friday, September 13, 2024 for tours which will be hosted by former staff and residents as well as other volunteers.

Kansas Executive Order 18-04 (Sexual Harassment)

Nancy Burghart — 2024-07-23T14:46:52Z

Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week 2024

David Thompson — 2024-07-22T12:55:00Z

In recognition of the 23rd annual Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week (PPPS), the Kansas Department of Corrections is proud to recognize, honor, and celebrate the work of our Parole Officers throughout KDOC. We thank and commend our Parole Supervision team for all the work as well as the outstanding teamwork displayed as each office leans on one another with challenging caseloads and efforts to mitigate the risks that come with the job. This year’s theme for PPPS Week is Wellness Unveiled: Navigating the Journey. There are a myriad of traumatic stories and broken lives that our workers must wade through just to help people under supervision and guide them to a place of stability. Those journeys can take a mental toll, to say the least. So, we are grateful that this week is not only a celebration of our valued team in post supervision, but to recognize the daily grind that can impact both mind and body. So, the celebration of this week is not just about the food, fun, or activities but more importantly, about celebrating the victories of lives turned around with the help of the best post supervision team in the country.

Uncle Bully Visits KJCC

David Thompson — 2024-06-26T14:00:00Z

Film producers from Hawaii recently unveiled their latest award-winning documentary, "Uncle Bully's Surf Skool" at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex. The film was about surfing instructor, Uncle Bully, who taught homeless children how to surf during COVID. It is a documentary that looks to inspire others to help or become a mentor wherever they can in an effort to build community.

Laptop Computers Issued to Barton Community College Students at Ellsworth Correctional Facility

David Thompson — 2024-06-07T12:40:00Z

An amazing groundbreaking day took place at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility! For the very first time ever in the Kansas Department of Corrections, 19 residents at ECF were issued laptop computers for their personal use in their college classes! This incredible partnership between Ellsworth Correctional Facility, Barton Community College, and Central Office Educational staff will provide an opportunity for residents to not only utilize computers during class and for their homework, but will enable residents to complete assignments in their own living area, mirroring the opportunities provided to traditional students within the community. Once residents have completed their BCC classes, the goal is to be able to participate in college classes through other colleges, allowing them to earn higher educational opportunities, including bachelor’s degrees while incarcerated.

To ensure the safety of all, this pilot program is utilizing a proprietary version of laptop that has disabled external ports and capabilities, with locked down operating systems, specifically designed for use in correctional environments. The internet being used exclusively for this program monitors all traffic through secure servers and vetted vendors. This will ensure access only to approved educational sites.

Thank you to the entire team that have worked so hard to make this dream a reality! From Central Office Educational staff who worked hard to secure funding from legislature, to Ellsworth Correctional Facility staff who will be monitoring the use of the laptops by the residents, and to Barton Community College will be guiding this incredible pilot program. Pathway for Success is alive and flourishing at Ellsworth Correctional Facility!

FY2025 Community Programs Juvenile Justice Involved Youth Programs

David Thompson — 2024-05-15T13:00:00Z

The Kansas Department of Corrections is pleased to announce the release of a grant application to help support communities in providing services to youth that are at risk for juvenile offenders and their families, juvenile’s experiencing behavioral health crisis and their families and children who have been administered a risk and needs assessment and have been identified as needing services pursuant to KSA 38-2292 (Youth identified as CINC – Child in Need of Care). Eligible Applicants: Governmental Entities and Community-based Agencies or Service Providers Applications accepted throughout the year, beginning Fiscal Year 2025. First round deadline July 15th, 2024. Applications may be submitted through the AmpliFund online

Lansing Correctional Facility's Fallen Staff Memorial 05 09 2024

David Thompson — 2024-05-09T22:00:00Z

"Working in corrections is challenging and can be dangerous. For over 150 years, the staff of the Kansas State Penitentiary now known as Lansing Correctional Facility have kept watch over those incarcerated at Lansing to keep the citizens of Kansas safe. Over the years, staff have faced acts of violence and a deadly pandemic. Nine staff members have made the ultimate sacrifice while carrying out their duties at Lansing. It is hard to say farewell to those we have lost in death. However, we will never forget our fallen brothers. We will keep their memories alive in our hearts and minds. May we find comfort in remembering our friends and loved ones for how they lived. They were husbands, fathers, brothers, friends, and co-workers. Each left their mark on Lansing. Let us take time to remember the nine fallen whose footsteps we follow in."

- Jesse Howes, LCF Warden

KJCC / Kansas Childrens Discovery Ctr Visitation 02 20 2024

David Thompson — 2024-03-20T13:15:00Z

The partnership between the Kansas Department of Corrections and the Kansas Childrens Discovery Center continues to flourish within a couple of our Visitation Rooms. KCDC has held numerous on-site visits with mothers and grandmothers with their children and grandchildren on the grounds of their Topeka Museum that is filled with games and learning activities. KDOC is slowly integrating the male facilities' Visitation Rooms utilizing KCDC'S Mobile Museum. They recently opened shop for a test run at Hutchinson Correctional Facility. And last month, they made a first time visit to the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex where 5 young dads were able to see and visit their children, three of whom were seeing their newborn child for the first time.

Kansas Executive Order 19-02 (Discrimination)

Nancy Burghart — 2024-03-08T15:08:08Z

KDOC Healthcare Checkup2024 Part 1

David Thompson — 2024-01-24T23:00:00Z

Many health problems that plague our world outside the fences, plague our world inside the fences at an even greater rate; increasing demand for healthcare services for cancer patients, substance abuse, and care for the elderly are common issues within state correctional facilities. We admit we are not perfect in addressing these problems, but healthcare within the Kansas Department of Corrections is doing a lot with what is given to us.

In looking at the healthcare provided for residents within KDOC, we offer you the first of a three-part series looking at ways KDOC is addressing these issues. This week, we hear how developing a working relationship with the contract partner, Centurion of Kansas LLC, has enabled positive ideas to be turned into positive outcomes.

TCF Offsite Visits - Kansas Childrens Discovery Center

David Thompson — 2023-11-15T18:00:00Z

The PLAY FREE Program is a daylong visit for Residents at the Topeka Correctional Facility who have earned the privilege to be offsite with their children or grandchildren at the The Kansas Children's Discovery Center in Topeka. The program has partnered with TCF since 2018. This program is open for six visits per year where children of incarcerated mothers/grandmothers can explore in an educational playground setting. The Kansas Department of Corrections is grateful for organizations like the Kansas Childrens Discovery Center who also believe in second chance opportunities while helping children of incarcerated parents.

Profile: TCF Residents working with Private Industries Partner

David Thompson — 2023-08-30T05:00:00Z

To date, there are nearly 1,300 adult residents employed by one of over 40 private industry partners with KDOC. These individuals are helping reduce labor shortages across Kansas and grow the state's economy while also building valuable work experience that translates to similar opportunities after serving their time. At the Topeka Correctional Facility, there are -70- residents who are working with a private industry partner that produces various products, many of which need sewn together. In two years, the company has experienced so much success, they are considering adding a second shift of workers at this TCF plant. The company has two other plants; one in Iowa and another in Mississippi. This is their story.

Midwest Innocence Project

Nancy Burghart — 2023-08-28T17:57:17Z

Who They Are - (Per the MIP home page-see attached link below) "We represent individuals convicted of crimes they did not commit, work to bring them home, support them upon re-entry, and change the system to prevent wrongful convictions in the first place. We are an independent innocence organization that is a part of the national Innocence Network. Our partnerships with law firms, law schools, and volunteers allow us to provide the very best representation at no cost to innocent people within our region." *MIP Only Accepts Cases in which the Applicant: - Is claiming actual innocence, in other words, that he/she did not participate in the crime - Was convicted in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska or Arkansas - Is currently incarcerated and has more than 10 years left to serve on his/her sentence - Has exhausted their appeals and is not currently represented by an attorney **Please note that the Kansas Prisoner Review Board is not affiliated with the Midwest Innocence Project. This information is being provided as an additional resource to assist in the clemency process when applicable.

Link to the Midwest Innocence Project https://themip.org/

KJCC Graduation June 30, 2023

David Thompson — 2023-07-26T15:00:00Z

Graduations are always so meaningful and emotional to all parties involved. It's a celebration of hard work, determination, belief in oneself, overcoming adversity, and in many cases in a prison, overcoming odds to not only survive but also thrive. Such was the case recently at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex as 21 residents graduated from Lawrence-Gardner High School and 6 others graduated from Washburn Tech. Our congratulations to the grads and their families. Thank you to all the staff, educators, partners at Washburn University and Washburn Tech, and the administration for your support!