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| Osawatomie Correctional Facility in peril |
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| News | |||
| Written by Robin Hixson | |||
| Wednesday, 21 January 2009 08:00 | |||
Jan. 13 brought a blow to the ongoing effort by three state legislators to prevent the April 1 closing of the Osawatomie Correctional Facility. In Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ newly proposed budget for the 2010 fiscal year, she specifically recommended suspending operations at the minimum security facilities in Osawatomie and Toronto for fiscal year 2009, citing a savings of $374,000 to the state general fund. She went on to recommend they remain closed in FY 2010, anticipating further savings.However, State Rep. Jene Vickrey said the losses from the discontinuation of inmate labor that would be incurred by Osawatomie State Hospital, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, the city of Osawatomie and Hillsdale Lake would negate any savings that the OCF’s closing would otherwise bring to the state coffers. “The facts are clearly on our side,” he said. Vickrey said he intends to join State Rep. Bill Feuerborn and State Sen. Pat Apple in a meeting with Kansas Secretary of Corrections Roger Werholtz next week. At some point, he said, they plan to meet with the governor on this issue, as well. In addition to their argument on the cost issue, the three legislators plan to point out that closing OCF would mean placing minimum security inmates back into the general prison population, which Vickrey said would be a step backward in their preparation to re-enter society. OCF provides an environment that allows them more interaction with the outside world through its community work programs and distances them from the harsher influences of the general prison population, he said. In an e-mail, Apple said the superintendent of Osawatomie State Hospital told him, Feuerborn and Vickrey the closing of OCF would require the addition of five full-time paid positions to cover the work performed by inmates. During a Friday tour of the facility led by OCF Unit Manger Paul Warfield, he spoke of the work his minimum security inmates do for OSH, Osawatomie, Hillsdale Lake and other entities in the area surrounding OCF. “Our purpose here is to serve the community,” he said, adding that inmates working outside the facility must pass medical and security clearance screenings to qualify. Warfield said interaction with the community through work programs is amenable. “The surrounding community, they work well with us,” he said. “I’ve never encountered any resistance on the part of the community or the staff.” The main building that houses OCF inmates and administrative offices is also maintained by inmates. “How the building and grounds look is how they look today,” he said. The Osawatomie Correctional Facility opened in 1987 as an 80-bed facility for male inmates on the grounds of the Osawatomie State Hospital. Warfield said inmates must meet special criteria to qualify for placement at this minimum-security facility. OCF is accredited under the American Correctional Association Forestry Camp and Work Camp standards, having received a score of 100 percent on its 1996 reaccreditation evaluation. It houses 74 inmates and employs a staff of about 30. In addition to the work programs, inmates also have the opportunity to work with dogs in a behavioral training program that prepares canines for adoption. OCF provides inmates with physical fitness equipment, medical and mental health care, law and leisure reading libraries, television with monitored cable, social training and group sessions led by inmate elders. Bill Russell, OCF head of security, said although OCF is well operated, he understands the budget issues that might force its closing. “It’s not just us,” he said. “I know they’re looking at closing other facilities, too. Times are just tough.”
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