LCF Career Campus
The coalition includes multiple businesses, chambers of commerce, colleges, non-profits, members of the faith community and other partners. By providing market certification and college courses for in-demand occupations, the Career Campus will train incarcerated students for new, worthwhile careers, while helping employers better meet their critical workforce needs.
READ MORE about KDOC's Work Programs
Research shows increased employment in livable wage jobs can reduce recidivism by half. Thriving, contributing citizens lead to increased public safety and community well-being. However, KDOC lacks the space in our correctional facilities to implement a broad range of career-technical education, college courses and programming that supports success in education and employment readiness.
READ MORE about the LCF Career Campus Project
To learn more, contact KDOC_Career Campus@ks.gov or call KDOC 785.296.3317.
Current Members of the Career Campus Public-Private Partnership:
- Brothers in Blue Reentry
- Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas
- Donnelly College
- Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
- JE Dunn Construction
- Kansas Board of Regents
- The Greater Kansas Chamber of Commerce
- Kansas City Kansas Community College
- Kansas Department of Commerce
- Kansas Department of Corrections
- KC Common Good
- KC Crime Commission’s Second Chance
- Lumen Torch
- Reaching Out from Within
- University of St. Mary
- Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Workforce Partnership
- Zephyr Manufacturing
The first phase of this project is a 776 square foot modular classroom and small group space is located next to the minimum-security unit at Lansing Correctional Facility. The classroom was funded by Terry Dunn and donated by Donnelly College, a private university in the Kansas City, Kansas area. Donnelly has successfully operated college programs close to 20 years at Lansing.
Working with our college and career education partners, KDOC will be able to expand career-relevant training opportunities. The new education spaces will advance the concepts of how to use the best techniques, equipment and training to prepare incarcerated individuals for the workforce and success after release.
Fast Facts
- The need is significant. Recent research shows 75% entering prison had weak employment and education histories and 50% were unemployed at the time of going back to prison
- Kansas needs a skilled, ready-to-work workforce, and KDOC is part of the solution.
- We release approximately 6,000 individuals each year who return to their home communities.
- 98% of the men and women in Kansas prisons today will return to live as our neighbors and members of our society.
- Each - if given an opportunity to gain in-demand skills - represents untapped human potential that can help businesses and the Kansas economy.
- Completing a GED, at least one CTE and/or a least one college course while incarcerated increases the likelihood of achieving a livable wage.
- Jobs - good jobs with benefits - often require training or certification, or in many cases an associate's or bachelor's degree.