Pound Pup Legacy

The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) and the Ellsworth Correctional Facility (ECF) are committed to assisting the communities throughout the State of Kansas. The means of providing this assistance is through the utilization of inmate labor. Assistance is available to governmental agencies as well as charitable organizations.

No work assignment pursuant to this section other than assignments to work for the state agencies shall result in the displacement of any currently employed worker or position, including partial displacement such as a reduction in the hours of non-overtime work, wages or employment benefits, or result in the impairment of existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements. Inmates shall not be utilized to fill a job opening when any individual is on layoff from the same or any substantially equivalent job, or the employer has terminated the employment of any regular employee at the same or substantially equivalent job and the position remains unfilled. Inmates may not be utilized on a project except to the extent that the cost of the project exceeds the funds available and budgeted for that project. If interested in utilizing a community service crew for your qualified agency or project, contact Johnnie Goddard, ECF Deputy Warden.

Assignments are designed to encourage inmates to develop desirable work habits and skills while engaging in work projects for ECF and the State of Kansas. In FY 2003, ECF inmates provided 82,325 hours of labor to various community projects including Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, City of Ellsworth, Kansas Department of Transportation, Central Kansas Cooperative in Education, CARES and TLC dog programs, Bicycle Repair Program, Romanian Baby Bundle Project, Pre-School Blind Children Book Project, and Ellsworth County Fireworks Committee. Below, are summaries of a few of the above listed programs.

Bicycle Repair Project

ECF has established a bicycle repair project. Bicycles and parts are obtained from private donations, law enforcement agencies, and civic organizations. Repaired bicycles are distributed to less fortunate children.

Bag Recycling

A partnership has also been developed with Central Kansas Cooperative in Education (CKCIE) in Salina, Kansas, utilizing inmate labor to recycle plastic bags. Funds generated by the project are utilized by CKCIE staff to purchase therapy equipment for special needs children.

Books on Tape

A books on tape program supplies text books on tape to facilitate the learning process for students.

Canine Assistance Rehabilitation Education and Services (CARES), Inc.

ECF established a partnership with CARES, Inc. in 1999. Puppies are assigned to inmate handlers for a 12-18 month period. The priorities of the program are to teach the puppies basic obedience and socialization skills. Upon release from ECF, the puppies are returned to CARES to learn specialized skills. Once these skills are mastered, the puppies are placed with physically challenged individuals to assist with their personal needs. The puppies as well as the recipients receive training prior to placement.

The Kansas State Penitentiary was authorized by the Kansas Constitution in 1859. The Kansas State Penitentiary, whose name was legislatively changed to the Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) on June 18, 1990, is the state's largest complex for detention and rehabilitation of adult male felony offenders. The complex consists of the Central Unit, which includes an 11 acre maximum security facility, and a 46 acre medium security facility, and the East Unit which is an 85 acre minimum security facility. The Osawatomie Correctional Facility (OCF) is located on the grounds of the Osawatomie State Hospital and is administratively aligned with LCF. Currently, the inmate population is capped at 2489. Within the LCF complex, there are 4 custody levels of inmates housed at the Lansing Correctional Facility, to include: special management, maximum, medium, and minimum custodies. The appropriate custody level of an inmate is determined by an inmate's length of sentence, crime, escape history, institutional adjustment, behavior record, and other factors designated by the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC). The warden of the facility administers 6 major budget programs: administration; capital improvements; classification and programs; security; support services; and the Osawatomie Correctional Facility. The Warden oversees an annual budget of over 30 million dollars.