If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse in a relationship, there is help available. For a complete listing of resources in Kansas, visit the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV) at https://www.kcsdv.org/ or call the Kansas Crisis Hotline at 888.END.ABUSE (888.363.2287). Please also feel free to contact the KDOC Office of Victim Services for more information https://www.doc.ks.gov/victim-services .
]]>Morris, a 43-year-old black male, left for Walmart in the community at 4:05 p.m. and was reported missing when he did not report back to the facility following an approved community pass.
Morris is 5 feet 10 inches tall, 179 pounds, slender build with brown eyes and black hair. Morris was last seen wearing jeans and a long sleeved, button up, white shirt and gray sweatshirt. Morris is known to inhabit homeless communities in Wichita.
Morris is currently serving a sentence for a conviction in Sedgwick County for removing electronic monitoring equipment. Morris was last seen leaving the Wichita Work Release Facility at 400 South Emporia in Wichita, Kansas.
Anyone with information on Morris can call the Kansas Department of Corrections at 316-265-5211, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.
The escape is currently being investigated. New information will be released as it becomes available.
The Wichita Work Release Facility, a satellite unit of the Winfield Correctional Facility, is an all-male, minimum-custody state prison with a population of 250.
]]>Last fiscal year, OVS provided direct services to 10,242 victims and batterer intervention programming to 227 individuals. There are currently 40,978 victims registered with OVS.
The department has expanded from providing victim notification - the original statutory requirement - to offering liaison services, restorative justice programming and batterer intervention programming.
Learn more about OVS at https://www.doc.ks.gov/victim-services or download the brochure at https://www.doc.ks.gov/victim-services/publications/brochures/ovs-brochure/view
]]>"Four individuals completed their GED, a great accomplishment and a springboard to future success," said Jeff Zmuda, Kansas Secretary of Corrections.
Over the past three years, close to 800 KDOC residents have earned GEDs.
Another seven individuals at TCF were recognized for completing The Last Mile coding program, and 18 residents were awarded certificates for earning a spot on the honor roll last semester at Washburn.
"These are great examples of individuals working hard for a better future," Zmuda said. "I also want to thank the staff members who worked with these individuals to help them achieve these milestones."
]]>The increase is due in part to Second Chance Pell grants. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced last fall that seven Kansas colleges had been awarded $2,229,125 million in Pell funding for incarcerated citizens. This was the second round of awards through the U.S. Department of Education, with 67 colleges selected from 180 applicants. Kansas received the highest number of awards in the nation.
Another four Kansas colleges are expected to apply in early 2022 for Second Chance Pell status. In July 2023, a ban - put in place in 1994 under the Violent Crimes Control and Law Enforcement Act - on Pell grants for those who are incarcerated will be lifted, leading to greater opportunities for more residents to enroll.
“Of the 325 residents in KDOC classrooms this fall, 240 are funded through Pell,” said Dr. Cris Fanning, KDOC Education Director. “By leveraging KDOC funds with Pell and other federal funds, KDOC plans to significantly increase market relevant job certifications for returning citizens.”
The classes are taught by professors from Kansas colleges. The Kansas Consortium for Correctional Higher Education, a partnership between KDOC, the Kansas Board of Regents and 11 Kansas higher education institutions, ensures prison programs are of the same quality as those on campus and that certifications and degrees are geared to high-demand occupations.
CTE programs include welding, sustainable/renewable energy, carpentry and electrical skills. Degree programs include associate of applied science, associate of arts in liberal studies and Bachelor of Science in computer information systems. As funding and space within the facilities allow, more programs and degrees will be added.
Special education and Title I services are also offered, and another 134 residents are enrolled in GED programs.
The connection between education and opportunity is well-documented. According to a recent Rand study, for every $1 spent on educating an incarcerated individual, taxpayers save between $4 and $5 in three-year incarceration costs. KDOC research indicates 75% of those entering prison have weak employment and education histories, and 50% of the reincarcerated were unemployed at the time of re-entry
“There is a direct link to education achievement and success after an individual fulfills their sentence and returns to the community,” said Jeff Zmuda, Kansas Secretary of Corrections. “Job readiness programs, transitional planning, private and correctional industry opportunities, mentors, tutors and many other key partners all play a part, but education and training are the foundation.”
Beyond the benefit to the individual, a skilled, ready-to-work workforce is one of our state’s highest needs.
KDOC releases approximately 6,000 individuals each year who return to their home communities. Providing training and education prior to release increases the labor pool for employers, and this in turn directly benefits local and state economies and improves the quality of life for all involved.
KDOC staff also observe that giving residents meaningful, relevant activities such as education and training leads to improved behavior. This is reflected in fewer rules violations and placements in restrictive housing. It also promotes positive engagement with staff and other residents and contributes to improved mental and physical health.
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