Wichita Work Release Facility

Overview:

Wichita Work Release Facility (WWRF), a part of the Winfield Correctional Facility, is an all-male, minimum-custody state prison located in Wichita in south-central Kansas.  The purpose of the work release program is to prepare selected offenders for release and to assist them in making a successful transition from the institutional environment back into free society.  Work release offers a unique opportunity to realize correctional objectives while permitting the participants to leave confinement and work in the community under close supervision and structure. 

Participating offenders must maintain full-time employment in the community.  From their wages they must pay a room and board fee, transportation expenses, court costs, restitution, dependent support, and other outstanding debts.  They must also accumulate savings prior to release from custody.  At the same time, participants are responsible for their own medical and dental expenses and maintenance of their room as well as general use areas of the facility. 

• Capacity:  250 minimum-custody male offenders

History:

1976    Wichita Work Release began operation at North Fairmont as a co-correctional program in January 1976, with an initial capacity of 22 offenders.

1978    The program relocated to north Market and expanded its population capacity to 55 offenders.

1984    Population capacity increased to 76 offenders.

1988    Population capacity increased to 100 offenders.

1989    The program's capacity increased to 182 upon the KDOC's termination of its community residential contract with VIP, Inc.  Those offenders from the VIP, Inc. contract were absorbed into WWRF in two buildings on north Market, the WWRF building and another leased by the KDOC to accommodate the influx.

1990    In November the facility moved to its current location at Emporia and Waterman.  Its population capacity was 198 offenders--188 male and 10 female.

1996    The administrations of Wichita Work Release Facility and Winfield Correctional Facility were combined, making WWRF a division of WCF.

2002    The women's work release program was transferred to Topeka.  As a result, the capacity was expanded by 52 beds, resulting in a total capacity of 250 offenders.