Kansas Inmate Search

Kansas inmate records are documents that contain identifying information and crime-related data of prisoners in Kansas. Per the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), interested members of the public may obtain publicly available inmate records from the record custodian. At the state level, the custodian is the Kansas Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Local police departments and sheriff's offices are the custodians of inmate records at the municipal level. Persons who obtain inmate records can expect to see the inmates' personal information, such as their names, gender, and birth dates, as well as mugshots, charges, and prospective release or court dates.

Inmate records are considered public in the United States and, therefore, are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:

The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.

How to Get Approved to Visit an Inmate in Kansas Prisons and Jails

All persons with intentions to visit inmates in facilities under the jurisdiction of the KDOC must do so by visitation policies. Kansas state inmates may receive visitors provided they meet the state's background check requirements.

First, the inmate must apply for visiting privileges by completing a visitation application form listing the names of the persons whom they wish to allow for visitations. Thereafter, the prison administrative staff shall perform a background check on the listed visitor before approving a prospective visitor for visitation. Then, the approved person may schedule visits to the facility. Visitors must present a government-issued photo ID upon arriving at the facility.

How Do I Contact Inmates in Kansas Prisons?

Kansas state inmates may be contacted via mail or telephone as provided by the KDOC inmate communications policies. Inmate telephone privileges include permission to make collect/prepaid calls, and inmate calls are restricted to persons whose numbers are on the detainee's approved call list. To receive phone calls from an inmate, interested persons are required to contact the department's designated vendor at (855) 698-0010 to sign up for a prepaid account. Interested persons may obtain other information regarding the process from the Inmate Telephone Page and Customer Service Information sheet.

All mail correspondence to current inmates must only include letters and photographs that meet the department's mail specification. Inmates are not allowed to receive items, including stamps, and all letters must indicate the inmate's full name, KDOC number, and the sender's name and address.

Respondents should address inmate mail thus:

Inmate Name & KDOC Number
Current Housing Unit
Institution/Facility Name
Institution/Facility Address
City, State, ZIP

How Do I Send Money to Inmates in Kansas Prisons?

As indicated on the inmate banking information page of the KDOC website, inmate friends and family may deposit money into an inmate's commissary account using either of the department's vendors: JPay or AccessCorrections.

Online payments can be made via JPay and will require the sender to establish an account. Payers may do this online at www.jpay.com or by calling (800) 574-5729. Using the designated account, inmates may also receive electronic messages depending on the facility where the inmate is located.

Similarly, deposits can be made via Access Corrections, requiring the sender to open an account on www.accesscorrections.com or call (866) 345-1884. In addition, individuals can make deposits at any of the CashPayToday walk-in facilities or the other locations listed on the page. The recipient's details must accompany all deposits, including the inmate's full name and designated DOC ID. Senders must also include their names as well as required return addresses.

How to Perform a Kansas Prison Inmate Search

All information about current Kansas state prisoners is generally maintained and disseminated by individual facilities. However, the Kansas State Department of Corrections also pools this information and provides it to anyone who needs to perform a Kansas inmate search. In addition, the department disseminates inmate information via corrections staff or online resources.

Besides allowing the public to perform an inmate lookup in Kansas, the KDOC website features publications relating to inmate welfare, correspondence, and visitation. Also featured on the website are tools that interested individuals may use to search for personal and crime-related inmate data. Other information that researchers cannot find on the site may be obtained by contacting the department or correctional facilities.

How to Perform a Kansas Jail Search

The public can use the KDOC inmate search tool to find a person in jail. Researchers may also use the tool to search for parole and community corrections absconders. Searches may be conducted on the site using an inmate's name, alias, or designated KDOC number.

The search tool will also provide other information, such as details of the inmate's charges, current sentence, and personal data, along with their housing facility location. Users may opt to view offender mugshots as well. For further information on how to find out if someone is in jail, interested persons may contact the Department's Records Division at (785) 296-0144.

Kansas State Prisons and County Jails: Understanding the Difference

Kansas state prisons and county jails are two separate types of correctional facilities in Kansas. State prisons are operated by the Kansas Department of Corrections, while local sheriff's departments operate county jails.

There are a total of nine state prisons in Kansas, located in seven different counties. The largest state prison is the El Dorado Correctional Facility, which can hold up to 2,200 inmates. The smallest state prison is the Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility, which can hold up to 40 juvenile offenders.

There are a total of 105 county jails in Kansas, located in 102 different counties. The largest county jail is the Sedgwick County Jail, which can hold up to 1,600 inmates. The smallest county jail is the Meade County Jail, which can hold up to 10 inmates.

Inmates in Kansas state prisons typically serve sentences of one year or more, while inmates in county jails typically serve sentences of less than one year. Inmates in both types of facilities are held accountable for their actions and are required to follow the rules and regulations set forth by the facility.

How Do I Find Out an Inmate Release Date?

Inmate release dates are typically displayed on inmate search results along with other sentencing information regarding the inmate. However, when making the release date public potentially threatens the inmate's security, the record custodian will sequester this information. Consequently, the only persons privy to the release date are immediate family members, crime victims, attorneys, and authorized criminal justice officials. These persons must visit or call the correctional facility directly to find out an inmate's exact release date.

Facilities Operated by the Kansas Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

While local law enforcement agencies manage city and county jails and detention centers, the Kansas state prison system is under the control of the Kansas Department of Corrections. The department operates 12 facilities, and the public can find any of these facilities using the DOC's prison lookup tool.

Listed below are the addresses and contact information of all the state-run correctional facilities in the US state of Kansas:

El Dorado Correctional Facility (EDCF)
1737 US-54
P.O. Box 311
El Dorado, KS 67042
Phone: (316) 321-7284
Fax: (316) 322-2018

EDCF Satellite Units
Southeast Medium Unit
2501 West 7th Street
Oswego, KS 67356
Phone: (316) 322-2045

Southeast Minimum Unit
1022 Fordyce Boulevard
Oswego, KS 67356
Phone: (316) 322-2045

Ellsworth Correctional Facility Central & Satellite Unit
P.O. Box 107
Ellsworth, KS 67439
Phone: (785) 472-5501
Fax: (785) 472-6365

Hutchinson Correctional Facility
500 Reformatory Street,
P.O. Box 1568
Hutchinson, KS 67504-1568
Phone: (620) 662-2321
Fax: (620) 728-3473

Juvenile Correctional Complex
1430 Northwest 25th Street,
Topeka, KS 66618
Phone: (785) 354-9800
Fax: (785) 354-9878

Lansing Correctional Facility
301 East Kansas Street,
Lansing, KS 66043
Phone: (913) 727-3235
Fax: (913) 250-2762

Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility
1318 KS-264,
Larned, KS 67550
Phone: (620) 285-6249
Fax: (620) 285-8070

Norton Correctional Facility
11130 Road E4,
P.O. Box 546
Norton, KS 67654
Phone: (785) 877-3389
Fax: (785) 877-6604

NCF Satellite Unit
P.O. Box 527
Stockton, KS 67669
Phone: (785) 425-6745
Fax: (785) 877-6760

Topeka Correctional Facility
815 Southeast Rice Road,
Topeka, KS 66607
Phone: (785) 296-3432
Fax: (785) 559-5112

Winfield Correctional Facility
1806 Pinecrest Circle,
Winfield, KS 67156
Phone: (620) 221-6660
Fax: (620) 221-9229

Wichita Work Release
401 South Emporia Street.
Wichita, KS 67202
Phone: (316) 265-5211 ext. 200 or ext. 232
Fax: (316) 262-5936