Women in Corrections 2026
by
David Thompson
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last modified
Mar 20, 2026 07:20 AM
In honor of National Womens History month, KDOC highlights several women throughout our agency who were not swayed by the historic perception of this industry as male-dominated. Instead, they stepped forward, bringing immense strength, professionalism, and dedication to our facilities and parole offices. As we look at why these women chose this profession, it is clear that they are an essential asset to our mission and the overall safety of our state.
In 1972, California became the first state where female correctional officers started working in male prisons. Kansas followed a similar trajectory of integration during this era. And in 1984, three women had the courage to be the first females to work in a men’s prison in Kansas. One of those included Dona Hook, the current warden at the Topeka Correctional Facility. As we celebrate National Women’s History month, we’d like to highlight several women who weren’t and aren’t swayed by the once-male-dominated industry and are making an impact in their field of work today: Women in Corrections 2026.
