Kansas Correctional Industries, KCI, as an agency within the Kansas Department of Corrections, contributes to a more efficient use of public funds, by offering resident produced goods and services to State and local governmental units and to other qualified organizations at a lower cost, while maintaining a high level of quality and service. In addition, KCI provides quality training and employment for residents.
Kansas statutes limit those authorized to purchase products manufactured and services provided by State operated correctional industries to State agencies; counties; cities; other units of local government; the Federal government; schools; churches; current State of Kansas employees; and eligible not-for-profit organizations. Similar agencies in other states are also eligible to purchase from KCI if their state laws do not prohibit it.
Currently, KCI employs over 1,100 residents, which is over 13% of the resident workforce, in a combination of traditional and private sector jobs. Those jobs consist of both high and low skilled opportunities and provide a large number of residents with highly marketable job skills upon release from prison.
Partnerships between KCI and private industries, which result in the employment of residents inside and outside prisons, benefit a variety of stakeholders.
If you are interested in obtaining more information about the private industry program or would like to explore partnership opportunities, please contact:
Richard O'Donnell
by phone: (913) 727-3249
or email: RIchard.ODonnell@ks.gov
Kansas Correctional Industries, KCI, as an agency within the Kansas Department of Corrections, contributes to a more efficient use of public funds, by offering resident produced goods and services to State and local governmental units and to other qualified organizations at a lower cost, while maintaining a high level of quality and service. In addition, KCI provides employment opportunities for Kansas adults in custody, educating and empowering them to become law-abiding, tax-paying citizens through successful work skills training.
Correctional Industries is a unique blend of business and government, using private industry tool and techniques to provide a public service. Thousands of residents gain work experience and training as they produce high quality, competitively priced products, which translates into enormous benefits for taxpayers, the residents who work and learn in CI, and for you, our customers.
With 97% of all incarcerated residents returning to local communities, Correctional Industries plays an important role in their transition. With the seed money from their savings, job skills and experience gained from CI, the residents have a greater chance of finding a job - enabling them to work toward a better life for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Correctional Industries has two objectives to enhance the work training programs we currently run statewide. The first is to ensure every qualified CI resident who wants assistance is "work ready" and employable upon release. The second objective is to link with community partners on job readiness, job placement, and Vocational Education to provide a pathway of continuous employment from prison into the community.
