KS DOC – Ellsworth Correctional Facility (ECF)

KS DOC – Ellsworth Correctional Facility (ECF) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 785-472-5501

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at Ellsworth Correctional located at 1607 State St in Ellsworth, KS are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

ECF is a state prison institution for adult males of mixed custody levels. East Unit houses an additional 95 minimum security offenders. Inmates can receive medical, dental and mental health treatment while incarcerated here. Vocational skills and GED courses are offered to inmates through Barton Community College. Some of the courses taught at the college include welding, plumbing, manufacturing, and internet/computers. Certifications can be earned for each of these skills upon course completion. In addition, inmates can participate in a vocational program that teaches them to build new homes that are later sold at auction.

Located on a 68.6-acre site, the ECF Central Unit currently provides housing for 832 multi-custody adult male inmates, while the East Unit provides housing for 95 minimum custody inmates. ECF’s mission is to safely and effectively contain and supervise inmates, while also providing for community, employee and inmate safety. Furthermore, the facility plays an integral role in reducing crime and its associated costs by providing inmates with a means to improve their conditions through involvement in traditional correctional programming, faith-based activities, cognitive-based activities, exposure to "real life" skills and effective staff-inmate interaction. Moreover, the inmate population is offered an opportunity to participate in a variety of facility-support and community-based work activities. Their ultimate goal is to encourage inmates to participate in the specific programs and activities that will best prepare each inmate for release and increase their opportunity for a successful law-abiding life, positively impacting not only the offenders’ lives but also their families’ lives and the lives of all who reside in those communities.

ECF Satellite Unit
ECF-East Unit
Phone: (785) 472-5501
P.O. Box 107
Ellsworth, KS 67439

The following are programs and services available at Ellsworth Correctional Facility:

NON-CONTRACTED PROGRAMS – Education
The KDOC contracts with Southeast Kansas Education Service Center (Greenbush) to provide educational and vocational services.

• Vocational Homebuilding Program
  Utilizes individualized, hands-on construction in cooperation with a competency-based curriculum to teach various aspects of the building trades. Inmate/students develop their skills by building low- and moderate-priced housing. Since the program began at ECF, six homes have been completed and sold at auction. Employment relations training is also a vital component of the curriculum and includes such aspects as getting a job, keeping a job and interpersonal relationships with employers and other employees. In 2008, the program began building cabins for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Thirty cabins are to be built over the next five to six years. As of August 2011, 18 cabins had been completed.

• Barton Community College
  Provides on-site educational opportunities through a U.S. Department of Labor Community-Based Job Training (CBJT) Grant Program.
  • Manufacturing Skills Certification (MSC): The MSC course provides the student with the skills necessary to obtain entry-level work on the shop floor of almost any manufacturing or construction company. The eight-hour credit course consists of five classes: OSHA 10 Safety Course, basic shop math, blueprint reading/geometric dimensions, precision measurement and employability skills.
  • Welding Certification: The welding instruction provides the student with the skills necessary to obtain an entry-level welding job. The course covers welding for various types of metals, including oil field pipe and aluminum. The 16-hour credit course consists of six classes: OSHA 10 Safety Course, shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, blueprint ready for welders and cutting processes.
  • Plumbing Certification: The plumbing instruction provides the student with the skills necessary to obtain an entry-level plumbing job in either the residential or commercial areas. Training is provided utilizing numerous types of tools that will be encountered in the plumbing industry. The course allows the student hands-on experience in using PVC, copper, steel, and Pex pipe and fittings. The nine-hour credit course consists of the following classes: OSHA Safety Training, Plumbing I, Plumbing II and Shop Practicum.
  • Internet and Computing Core Certification: This two-course program provides the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to take the Certiport IC-3 certification examination. The three-credit hour course includes instruction in an introduction to computers and computer concepts and applications.
  • GED Instruction/Testing: This course provides GED instruction and preparation throughout a 40-hour workweek.
  • Work Ready Instruction/Testing: This course provides the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to take the Work Ready certification examination. The program includes classes in reading, locating information and mathematics.

Medical – ECF's medical services encompass many areas of inmate medical needs. In addition to the 24-hour nursing care that is available, a physician is on-site 20 hours per week and a dentist is on-site 30 hours each week. Services include medical screenings and physical exams; dental exams and prophylaxis with treatment that include oral surgery and limited prosthetics; optometry needs for prescribing and fitting of eyewear; ancillary services for laboratory values and x-rays; referral entities for special needs of brace/limb prosthetics; orthopedic consultations and surgeries; neurosurgical and neurological consultations; ophthalmological consultations for general surgical conditions; general medical diagnosis and treatments; internal medicine diagnosis and treatments; and other specialty referrals subject to the approval of the state medical director. The chronic care clinic currently provides services in the following areas: pulmonary, hypertension, diabetic, cardiac, epileptic, positive HIV, TB prophylaxis, past positive TB prophylaxis and hyperthyroidism.

Mental Health – The mental health department’s overall goal is to provide services that encourage and assist the inmate in making positive changes and meeting his individual needs. The mental health therapy program provides a variety of services which include mental health group counseling, intensive groups, individual counseling, psychiatric intervention, crisis intervention, psychological evaluations, activity therapy, discharge planning, telepsychiatry to assist in the management of inmates on psychotropic drugs and on-call services. In addition, mental health professionals provide staff instruction on the assessment and management of the inmate population.

Reentry

• Central Kansas Reentry Program (CKRP)

CKRP primary objective is to ensure inmates have the opportunity to improve their probability of a successful return to society. The program utilizes partnerships with corrections agencies, law enforcement, victim services, mental health services, medical health providers, political and community representatives, employers and employment agencies, landlords, housing authorities and faith-based organizations.

CKRP’s target population consists of inmates who are assessed with high risks and needs in specific areas of their lives, are releasing to the Central Kansas area within a 90-minute radius of the Ellsworth Correctional Facility and who are within 12-14 months from their scheduled release. Once assessed for needs in their high risk-to-re-offend areas, these individuals are referred to groups, classes and workshops designed around their case management plan to target their specific needs. The primary areas of focus include but are not limited to:

• Thinking for a Change – focuses on the process of acceptance of social controls, the constructs of our environment, understanding thought patterns and ramifications of actions.
• Job Readiness Training – designed to increase the likelihood of employment stability through education, career assessments, resume building, interview proficiency and networking.
• Family Transitions – emphasizes creating positive rewards and value systems in relationships including how to avoid and handle conflicts.
• Transitional Planning – focuses on housing and reentry in the community and seeking out pro-social rewards and support systems.
• Money Matters – provides instruction on financial matters such as budgeting, managing bank accounts and incorporating savings and retirement plans into a financial plan.
• Interventions – focuses on daily functioning and emotional interventions that address primary life stressors.

Pro-social supports are also a highlight of CKRP. Families attend quarterly family workshops in the community to speak with reentry and parole staff regarding release planning and community transitions. Providing community supports to individuals assures the best chance for their success. Reentry staff will continue working with the individual and their parole supervisor post-release offering services and mediation as needed until societal stability is achieved and the individual advances through the commencement process.

Bicycle Refurbishing Program – Established in 1999, the program employs 12 inmates who repair and refurbish bicycles that are then donated to less fortunate individuals in Kansas communities and throughout the United States. The bicycle parts and materials are obtained through donations by individuals, law enforcement agencies and civic organizations.

Recreation – Inmates participate in recreational or leisure time activities depending upon their physical ability, fitness, and acceptable behavior. The program targets physical and mental fitness promotes productive leisure time and includes intramural, social and cultural programming in addition to special events. The gym and yard are open seven days a week for inmate use.

Community Access Network (CAN), Inc. – Implemented in 2003, this project is a not-for-profit collaborative initiative comprised of representatives from various Kansas government organizations and community partners. The purpose of CAN is to develop an online resource to promote social issues, identify available services, and provide community statistics surrounding social issues and services.

Wheels for the World – Established in 1993, this outreach program for Joni and Friends Ministries refurbishes used wheelchairs that are distributed throughout the world. ECF’s program also manufactures universal footrests that are shipped to other distribution centers. Additionally, the program produced a new all-terrain attachment which allows individuals in various areas of the world to maneuver a wheelchair in rough terrain. The program's ECF supervisors are often called upon to lend their support in training and technical advice to set up similar programs in other states and countries. The program contracts with Personal Energy Transportation Kansas from Moundridge, Kan., to build parts for hand-cranked carts that are needed by those who lost the use of their legs due to polio, landmine injuries or amputation.

Library – The library provides recreational, educational, legal and other information resources contributing to the development of the inmates in their physical, intellectual, moral and spiritual well-being. The library has approximately 12,000 books, receives about 30 newspapers and magazines and provides reference collection of encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories, and other ready-reference books. The collection is supplemented by an efficient, state-wide inter-library loan service. Inmates are provided access to all the legal documents, cases, statutes, administrative rules and case notes through the computerized LexisNexis system. The library also provides photocopying services and typewriters for inmates doing legal work.

Canine Assistance Rehabilitation Education and Services (CARES), Inc. – Since 1999, the CARES group has worked with ECF inmates who teach puppies basic obedience and socialization skills during a three- to six-month period. Once these skills are mastered, the dogs are placed with individuals who have a variety of challenges (physical, mental or emotional).

Work Programs – ECF’s policy is to provide inmates with a variety of meaningful work/program assignments patterned after a typical workday in the community. 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.

An inmate employment assessment and job assignment program has been established at ECF which is utilized to ensure inmates are assigned jobs commensurate with their technical skills and to encourage inmates to possess positive behavioral characteristics. In addition, inmates are assigned to work crews to obtain on-the-job training which allows them to develop their work skills and assist them with reintegration into society.

visitation Info

KS DOC – Ellsworth Correctional Facility (ECF) Visitation

Once an inmate is eligible for visiting privileges, the inmate is responsible for ensuring that his visitors receive the necessary paperwork to register as visitors. For more information, please review IMPP 10-113D: Offender Visitation.

Authorized visitors:

• Intake Level (Level 0) – Attorneys, approved mentors, clergy, and law enforcement officials. (Scheduled appointments only)
• Level I – Immediate family members as defined on page 8, one primary visitor, attorneys, approved mentors, clergy, and law enforcement officials (with prior approval)
• Levels II, III, and E (Work Release) – Anyone identified on approved visitor’s list.

KS DOC – Ellsworth Correctional Facility (EDF) – Visitation Handbook

Special Management Inmates 
Disciplinary Segregation – Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. 
One 60 minute non-contact visit per week during normal visiting hours (8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) 1,2 

Administrative Segregation/ Non-Contact 
One half day non-contact visit per week (7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) 1,2 

General Population Inmates – Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat./Sun. 
Incentive Level I , II, III, & E (Work Release)
Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. : 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m
Sat./Sun. Level I, II, III, & E (Work Release):  7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
State observed holidays ONLY: 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m

Criminal Trespass 
Only visitors conducting official business shall be allowed on facility grounds. Visitors shall not loiter or attempt to approach the facility’s perimeter fence. The fence is clearly marked, “No Trespassing – Authorized Personnel Only”. Being on facility grounds for purposes other than official business or attempting to approach the facility’s perimeter fence is a violation of Kansas Statute 21-3721 (Criminal Trespass). Violators shall be subject to prosecution and suspension of visiting privileges. 21-3826. 
Traffic in contraband in a correctional institution. 
Traffic in contraband in a correctional institution is introducing or attempting to introduce into or upon the grounds of any correctional institution or taking, sending, attempting to take or attempting to send from any correctional institution or any unauthorized possession while in any correctional institution or distributing within any correctional institution, any item without the consent of the administrator of the correctional institution. "Correctional institution" means any state correctional institution or facility, conservation camp, state security hospital, juvenile correctional facility, community correction center or facility for detention or confinement, juvenile detention facility or jail. Trafficking in contraband in a correctional institution is illegal in accordance with KAR 44-2-103 (Trafficking in Contraband) and is a severity level 5 or 6 nonperson FELONY (depending on the circumstances involved) under K.S.A. 21-3826. All cell phones/pagers and tobacco products are prohibited. These items must be secured in your vehicle. Any attempt to introduce these items into the facility is subject to criminal charges. Notice: "All persons entering upon these grounds are subject to routine searches of their person, property, or packages," in accordance with IMPP 12 -115 (Search of Visitors). Signs advising of this notification are posted in English and Spanish upon entrance into the facility.
What are the dress requirements? 
A. All visitors shall be dressed appropriately. The following type of clothing shall be considered inappropriate for visiting. * Any clothing that reveals bare shoulders, bare midriff, or any part of the breast. Examples include tank tops, halter tops, tube tops, spaghetti strap, tie tops, revealing low cut necklines, etc.; 
* See-through or braless attire; 
* Mini-skirts or slit-skirts/slit-dresses (kick pleats/back vents are allowable); 
* Lycra-spandex items; 
* Backless tops/dresses; 
* Shorts or culottes, except for children ten (10) and under; 
* Capri pants that do not extend below the knee; 
* Jeans that are torn or with holes; 
* Bare feet; and 
* Any attire that proclaims gang affiliation or promotes drug/alcohol use. 

The aforementioned list includes clothing that is not acceptable; however, this list is not meant to be all-inclusive. The facility reserves the right to deny admission to any visitor when it is determined a visitor's attire is not acceptable. Metal items included in your clothing, whether visible or not, that cannot be removed will result in your denial to visit. Clothing that you should avoid wearing include: jeans with jewelry/metal studs affixed, any clothing with metal in any form (such as underwire or metal clasp brassieres). 

Q. What type of personal contact is permitted? 
A. A brief embrace and/or kiss that lasts no longer than one (1) minute in duration shall be allowed only at the beginning and the end of the visit. Handholding is allowed as long as it is in full view of staff and on top of the table. Inmates and visitors utilizing the theater-style chairs shall ensure their hands remain visible at all times and when holding hands, shall display them on the armrest. No arms shall extend behind the chairs at any time. Inmates and adult visitors shall not lay their heads down on the table or on their arms, while at the table, during their visit. Lying or sitting on the floor/ground or sitting on table tops is prohibited. Inmates and their visitors shall not be allowed to have physical contact with another inmate’s visitor (i.e., holding a child of another inmate’s visitor, embracing or kissing another inmate’s visitor, etc.). Visits may be terminated for additional contact. Violation of this rule may result in loss of visiting privileges.
Inmates on Levels II, III, and E (Work Release) status are authorized to receive visits from individuals identified on the inmates’ approved visitor’s list. Common-law spouses must affirm such through formal documentation provided to the facility upon application for visiting privileges. DEFINITION OF IMMEDIATE FAMILY: Parents, step-parents, siblings, spouses of siblings, half-siblings, step-siblings, children, spouses of children, step-children, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, spouse, parents of spouse, grandparents, or any person who filled the role of parent defacto with respect to the inmate as confirmed by the Warden upon review of the social history. 

Q. What are the visiting hours and what days can I visit? 
A. Entrance into ECF, for inmate visitation purposes, shall not be allowed more than thirty (30) minutes prior to scheduled visitation time. Once the visitor clears the metal detector, they shall not be allowed to return to their vehicle or to leave the Visitation Room and reenter to resume the visit. Visitors shall not be allowed to enter the Visitation Room when there is less than one (1) hour left of the visitation period. Admission after this time does not permit sufficient time for staff to contact the inmate and get him to the area before visiting is concluded. 

Visitors and inmates shall check in with the Visitation Room Officer upon entry. Termination of visiting shall be announced one (1) minute prior to the end of the visitation period. At the end of that one (1) minute period, visitation shall be terminated and visitors shall promptly depart facility grounds. Failure to do so may result in loss of visitation privileges.

Inmates on administrative segregation status shall be afforded one (1) half (½) day (7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) non-contact visit per week, Monday through Friday, excluding state-observed holidays, with individuals on approved visitor’s list. Form-9 requests shall be submitted to the Unit Team a minimum of four (4) working days prior to the requested visit date/time and approved/arranged by the Classification Administrator. 

Inmates on disciplinary segregation status shall be afforded one (1) sixty (60) minute non-contact visit per week, Monday through Friday, excluding state-observed holidays, with individuals identified on approved visitor’s list. Form-9 requests shall be submitted to the inmate’s Unit Team a minimum of four (4) working days prior to the requested visit date/time and approved/ arranged by the Classification Administrator. Requests for non-contact visitation shall be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Inmates at the East Unit on non-contact visitation status shall not be allowed visitation privileges.

GENERAL INFORMATION Parking: The visitor parking lot is located south of the main entrance (off of Hwy 140). Visitors shall remove the keys from their vehicle, roll up windows, and lock all doors. If a visitor’s vehicle is found unsecured, the visitor that departs visitation to secure the vehicle will not be allowed to reenter. His/her visit shall be terminated for that visitation period. People not allowed to visit shall not be permitted to wait in the parking lot. 

Visitor Registration and Identification: 
Each visitor shall be required to complete and sign all necessary paperwork, including the visitor register prior to visiting. Before each visit, you shall be required to produce positive identification. Persons sixteen (16) or older must provide a photo identification, such as a driver's license or official government-issued identification card. A marriage license or birth certificate is acceptable for persons under sixteen (16) who cannot produce photo identification. Visitors unable to produce positive identification shall be denied visiting privileges. 

All visitors must pass through and clear a walk-through metal detector. It may be necessary to remove shoes, belts, watches, items from pockets, and other personal items in order to clear a metal detector. Visitors shall be allowed three attempts to clear the walk-through detector. If a visitor fails to clear a walk-through metal detector after three attempts, a hand-held metal detector shall be used. Visitors failing to clear the hand-held metal detector or who refuse to be screened by a metal detector shall be denied admission to the facility. 

Personal Belongings: 
Visitors coming into the institution shall be allowed to bring in a maximum of $10.00 in change for use in the vending machines. Paper currency is not permitted. 
* Inmates shall not handle any currency, change, or credit/debit cards. 

Purses, wallets, handbags, or other valuables are not permitted in the facility; a small coin purse or plastic zipper bag is permissible. Visitors are authorized to possess prescription sunglasses and medication which does not require injection, not to exceed the amount needed for the length of the visitation period. * Visitor lockers (5.75-inch x 5.75-inch) are available on a limited basis for storage of small items.

Visitors shall not be permitted to wear headgear such as hats, caps, scarves, etc., into the Visitation Room unless approved by the Shift Supervisor for religious or medical issues. In addition, visitors shall place all hats, coats, jackets, hoodies, hooded sweatshirts, or other types of outer garments on the coat rack located in the Entry Area. 

Visitors are not permitted to bring in food or drink items (except for baby items listed on page 7 and East Unit visitation); however, vending machines are available for use by visitors to provide soft drink and snack items for themselves and the inmate being visited. Additionally, the Spiritual Life Center (SLC) operates a food stand in the Central Unit Visitation Room. The food items may be purchased by the use of a debit/credit card. 

Novelty items handcrafted by ECF inmates are on display in the Central Unit Visitation Room and are available for purchase by visitors. 

Cameras are not allowed on the grounds of ECF without prior approval. Cell phones are not allowed inside the facility. They shall be secured in the visitor’s personal vehicle. 

Handicapped Accessibility: If you are handicapped and need assistance with communication or help with a wheelchair, walker, etc., notify the Entry Officer when you arrive. The officer will ensure that proper assistance is obtained. Handicapped parking is available at the front entrance of the Central Unit. 

Child Visitors – Games are provided by the Post Rock Jaycees. Visitors shall not bring in their own games. 

Children under five (5) years old shall be permitted to bring in one (1) toy per child. Toys shall not be kicked or thrown. The following is a list of toys that shall not be permitted: 
* Stuffed animals, dolls, or toys that cannot be easily inspected; 
* AC/DC powered toys; 
* Any toy that makes noise. 
The above-mentioned list is not meant to be all-inclusive

Visitors shall be responsible for the conduct of their children while in the Visitation Room. If behavioral problems are not corrected, visits may be terminated. The contents of diaper bags shall be limited to the following per infant: 
* Six (6) cloth or disposable diapers 
* Four (4) sealed jars of baby food 
* Three (3) clear (pre-mixed) baby bottles per infant 
* One (1) plastic spoon 
* One (1) dispenser of wet wipes 
* One (1) infant carrier (no strollers) 
* One (1) change of clothes for the infant 
* One (1) infant blanket Contents of the diaper bag shall be subject to search. 

East Unit visitors may bring food items purchased from restaurants/fast food stores, plastic ware and paper plates, and ice cream and ice cream blended with flavoring/fruit/candy/cookies. No soft drinks, water, tea, or milkshakes may be brought in. Homemade food items are prohibited. East Unit liquid drinks shall be purchased from the facility vending machines. Visitors at the East Unit may leave to purchase food items then return to resume the visits.