NCJ Number
64505
Date Published
1979
Length
107 pages
Annotation
THE WORK OF THE KANSAS OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN FOR CORRECTIONS IS DESCRIBED FOR FISCAL YEAR 1979.
Abstract
THE OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECEIVING AND RESOLVING COMPLAINTS CONCERNING INMATES AND THEIR FAMILIES, CORRECTIONAL STAFF MEMBERS, AND CORRECTIONAL VOLUNTEERS. IT IS A STATUTORILY ESTABLISHED STATE AGENCY THAT IS SEPARATE FROM THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE 15-MEMBER CORRECTIONS OMBUDSMAN BOARD. FUNDING FOR FISCAL 1979 WAS $78,584. WHILE FUNDING HAS INCREASED OVER THE YEARS, IT IS STILL NOT SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT OMBUDSMAN SERVICES TO ALL EIGHT ADULT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. A BUDGET FOR 1981 HAS BEEN PROPOSED WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE ADDITION OF TWO PROFESSIONAL FIELD POSITONS AND ONE SUPPORT POSITION. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE FOUR FULL-TIME POSITIONS AND ONE PART-TIME POSITION, ONLY TWO OF WHICH ARE FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL FIELD POSITIONS. DURING THE YEAR, THE OMBUDSMAN PRESENTED THREE REPORTS AND ACCOMPANYING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE SECRETARY OF CORRECTIONS. ONE REPORT DEALT WITH PROPERTY LOSS COMPLAINTS FROM INMATES, AND THE OTHER TWO SHORTER REPORTS TREATED INMATE ACCESSIBILITY TO GRIEVANCE FORMS AT THE REFORMATORY AND INMATE ACCESSIBILITY TO TOILET FACILITIES IN THE RECREATIONAL AREA OF THE REFORMATORY. A TOTAL OF 626 COMPLAINTS WERE HANDLED, OF WHICH 558 WERE CLOSED WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR. ONLY 10.9 PERCENT OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE DETERMINED TO BE 'UNFOUNDED.' THE MOST FREQUENTLY RECEIVED COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE CARE OF INMATES. TABLES, FIGURES, AND DRAWINGS ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)