The El Dorado Correctional Facility (EDCF), Kansas’ newest correctional facility, was constructed as a result of a 1988 class action lawsuit challenging prison conditions. The $58 million facility was originally constructed to house 640 adult male residents with the potential for future expansion of 725 additional beds. In 1995, a 115-bed, medium-custody dormitory was created by modifying an existing industrial building. In 2001, two additional cell houses were activated at the central unit at a cost of $17.5 million. EDCF’s Central Unit opened in January 1991.

Located one mile east of El Dorado on State Highway 54, EDCF is designed to house special management, maximum- and medium-custody residents. Residents assigned to the Central Unit are usually repeat offenders with a history of violent behavior.

EDCF’s philosophy is that residents are sentenced to incarceration as punishment, not for punishment. During a resident’s incarceration, it is our responsibility to increase residents’ abilities and motivations to practice responsible, pro-social, crime-free behavior through the provision of programs and services designed to assist with both risk reduction and reentry efforts.

EDCF houses the most dangerous and recalcitrant residents assigned to long-term involuntary segregation. Also, all male offenders sentenced to the custody of the Secretary of Corrections are received and processed through the EDCF Reception and Diagnostic Unit (RDU). In RDU, residents receive orientation and are assigned to a custody classification, appropriate programs and a permanent housing assignment. The management and activities at EDCF impact the entire corrections system due to the specialized nature of our operation.

As with other facilities under the management of the Secretary of Corrections, education, health services and food services are provided through contracts with private vendors.

The following are programs and services available at El Dorado Correctional Facility:
The programs division provides oversight for risk reduction, reentry and case management initiatives at EDCF. The division ensures effective programming is offered to provide rehabilitative treatment to assist inmates for return to society. These programs include academic and vocational education, cognitive skills, self-help groups and mental health services. Programs to enhance work ethics, relapse prevention and goal setting are also available.

Within the program division, unit teams manage the inmate population assigned to each housing unit. A unit team manager is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the housing unit. Uniformed staff and corrections counselors are also part of each unit team. The unit team’s purpose is to decentralize programs and operations to provide more individual attention to the inmate population and to respond to the needs of individual inmates.

An individualized treatment program is developed, implemented and maintained for each inmate by unit team staff. The unit teams provide services to inmates in the form of work assignments, progress reviews, attitudinal and adjustment counseling, release counseling and other matters. For unit teams, release planning for all inmates is vital to an inmate’s successful transition into society. An inmate employment assessment and job assignment program is utilized to ensure inmates are assigned jobs commensurate with their technical skills. Inmates are also assigned to work crews to obtain on-the-job training which allows them to develop work skills and assist them with reintegration into society. The records office is responsible for providing clerical support for the unit teams and for updating records of inmates received, processed and transferred into and from EDCF.

Contract services, including medical, mental health and education programs are also overseen by the deputy warden of programs.

NON-CONTRACTED PROGRAMS

Facility/Parole Interaction
Facility/parole interaction meetings convene on a monthly basis for parole and facility staff to make presentations to inmates who will be releasing in 30 to 60 days. Discussions occur surrounding the 12 standard conditions of parole to dispel common myths and beliefs about post release supervision. In Phase 2, conference calls occur between inmates, facility staff (IPO, Unit Manager, Counselor, Release Planner, etc.) inmate family members or home plan sponsor and other appropriate participants.

SKIP
The Kansas Strengthening Kids of Incarcerated Parents (KS-SKIP) program is a model program designed to connect incarcerated parents to their children prior to release from prison. The initial phase of the KS-SKIP program is a 13-week parenting class that focuses on increasing the father’s understanding of their role as a parent, in spite of incarceration. The goal is to strengthen the father-child relationship prior to release and to prepare fathers to reconnect with their child/children. The second phase is Play and Learn groups. The groups are mobile preschool environments where parents and children gather to play and learn together under the supervision of trained facilitators. Each week for 8-12 weeks, fathers turn an adult space into a playgroup environment for their children. When children arrive at the facility, fathers become the primary caregiver for that hour and a half session. The program’s third phase includes support to the caregivers. Concurrent to the Play and Learn group, a support group is offered for the caregivers of the children.

FLIP
Directed at segregation inmates, FLIP (Fundamental Lessons in Psychology) consists of various psychological topics including: anger management, anxiety, assertiveness, cognitive self-change, depression, general mental health, grief, loss and forgiveness, men’s issues/adjustment and self-esteem.

Chaplaincy
EDCF has two full time chaplains who facilitate, coordinate, and oversee religious programs for the Central Unit. There are over 24 different groups facilitated by the Chaplain’s office including Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous, Asatru, Assembly of Yahweh, Buddhist, Church of Christ Study, House of Yahweh, Innerchange, Islamic Study, Jehovah’s Witnessess, Jewish Study, Latter Day Saints, Mennonite Study, Moorish Science Temple, Native Americans, Pentecostal Worship, Non-Catholic Christian Study, Sunday Services, Rastafarian, Roman Catholic Study/Mass, Seventh Day Adventists, Spanish Speaking Bible Study and Wicca. The Chaplain’s office provides greeting cards and reading materials to inmates as they are provided by donations. This office also provides premarital counseling, grief counseling, memorial services and emergency notification for families of inmates. Additionally, counseling is provided for inmates with families, and counseling and assistance is provided to staff as needed and requested. The chaplains coordinate volunteer services for approximately 250 volunteers, provide training to both volunteers and facility staff, work with local community leaders and clergy and lead worship services for inmates.

Spritual Life Center
Opened in June 2010, the Spiritual Life Center is an 11,500 sq. foot structure designed to support the spiritual needs of inmates. Constructed primarily through the efforts of inmate labor, volunteers, and facility staff, project funding, furnishings, and equipment have come exclusively from donations received from individuals, corporations and foundation grants. The Spiritual Life Center provides space to an increased number of inmates to attend religious services along with housing support groups such as AA and Life Skills training. The building contains a large chapel area, a multi-purpose room, five classrooms, a library, two chaplain’s offices and a conference room.

Transitional Segregation Program (Segregation to Society (STS))
Aimed at long-term segregation inmates who have 12 to 16 months until release, the program provides a number of tools necessary for the transition to the community. Inmates in this setting have been more restricted in their movement and access to others and have not been able to attend release and re-entry classes. In-cell assignments are conducted through handouts, workbooks, manuals, etc. Instruction is provided directly to inmates by trained staff.

Behavior Modification Program (BMP)
The BMP is a program designed to deal with transitioning segregation inmates in a stratified behavior modification program based on increased steps of privileges for demonstrated appropriate behavior and program compliance. The nine-month, cognitive-based program integrates inmates in a 3-step process that includes portions of Thinking for a Change, Motivation for Change, PAD (Positive Attitude Development), and Anger Management programs.