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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!

Megan Milner Biography

Nancy Burghart — 2023-05-31T15:55:22Z

Megan Milner began her career in the field of corrections and criminal justice in 2000. Her experience ranges from juvenile intake and assessment, substance abuse treatment, family drug court, correctional facility administration, training, reentry services, assessments and program evaluation. Megan was previously the Superintendent at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex. Before serving as the Superintendent, Megan served as the Director of Community-Based Services, working with Kansas communities and stakeholders on issues impacting supervision and resources available to system-involved individuals. Megan is a certified public manager, holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Washburn University and a Master's in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati.

Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex (KJCC)

Nancy Burghart — 2023-05-18T19:04:13Z

Cold Case Cards 1st Anniversary

David Thompson — 2023-05-08T21:00:00Z

For nearly a year, the dayrooms and living areas of Kansas correctional facilities and county jails have seen the first decks of playing cards with information about unsolved murder cases in our state. KDOC takes a look at the impact of the Cold Case Cards thus far and what victims' families are saying.

NCF - Trash bags to Mats for Homeless

David Thompson — 2023-04-11T14:50:00Z

The Crafts and Arts program at Norton Correctional Facility is helping the homeless community throughout Kansas as they take donated trash bags and crochet them together into mats and tote bags. See how one man's trash bag can become another man's treasure.

Why I Love Working for KDOC

David Thompson — 2023-03-23T11:55:00Z

In their own words, our Unsung Heroes share why they love the work of corrections.