Kansas
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Contact:
Kansas Department of Labor
401 SW Topeka Boulevard
Topeka, KS 66603
795-296-5000
Web Site: www.dol.ks.gov/
Information about State Department of Labor resources may be of interest to:
• potential employers looking for incentives to hire individuals with criminal histories;
• service providers and individuals with criminal histories who are looking for assistance in finding employment; and
• researchers and policy makers looking at current programs to ascertain what programs are effective and serve their intended purpose.
Federal Bonding Program
The Federal Bonding Program provides fidelity bonding insurance coverage to individuals with criminal histories and other high-risk job applicants who are qualified, but fail to get jobs because regular commercial bonding is denied due to their backgrounds.
Contact:
Job Service Administration
Kansas Department of Labor
401 SW Topeka Boulevard
Topeka, KS 66603-3182
785-296-7435
785-368-7108 fax
Tax Credits
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit to reduce the federal tax liability of private for profit employers to be used as an incentive for employers to hire individuals from eight different targeted groups: TANF recipients, veterans, ex-felons, high risk youth, summer youth, Food Stamp recipients, SSI recipients, and vocational rehabilitation referrals.
Contact:
Kansas Department of Labor
Division of Employment and Training
401 SW Topeka Boulevard
Topeka, KS 66603-3182
785-296-7435
785-296-1458 fax
Unemployment Insurance Office
Unemployment compensation is a social insurance program designed to provide benefits to most individuals out of work, generally through no fault of their own, for periods between jobs. In order to be eligible for benefits, jobless workers must demonstrate that they have worked, usually measured by amount of wages and/or weeks of work, and must be able and available for work.
The unemployment compensation program is based upon federal law, but administered by states under state law.
Unemployment Insurance applications may be submitted via the on-line claims filing system or at one of the regional call centers. The Unemployment Insurance (UI) program is administered through the Employment & Training Division of the Kansas Department of Human Resources.
Contact:
Web Site: https://www.dol.ks.gov
Contact:
Kansas City UI Call Center
P.O. Box 2089
Kansas City, KS 66110
913-596-3500
913-0287-1182 fax
Contact:
Topeka UI Call Center
P.O. Box 3539
Topeka, KS 66601
785-575-1460
785-296-3249 fax
Contact:
Wichita UI Call Center
P.O. Box 877
Wichita, KS 67201
316-383-9947
316-266-8674 fax
This is the agency individuals may contact to obtain a copy of their state rap sheet. The criminal record repository can also tell the individual who else is legally entitled to have access to his or her record.
To obtain a copy of a criminal history record, one should mail a completed FBI Applicant Fingerprint card (form FD258) with a letter requesting a copy of a criminal history record to the address listed below. The letter should explain the purpose of the request. A $10 fee is also required.
Contact:
Adult Records Unit
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
1620 SW Tyler Street
Topeka, KS 66612
785-296-8200
Web Site: https://www.kansas.gov/criminalhistory/
Employers and service providers may obtain information from the state attorney general regarding occupational bars, the licensing of individuals with criminal records in certain jobs, and whether the state has laws that limit what employers may ask job applicants or protections against employment discrimination based on a criminal record.
Contact:
120 SW 10th Avenue, 2nd Floor
Topeka, KS 66612
785-296-2215
Web Site: www.ksag.org/
Prison Industry Program
There are two types of industry programs in Kansas. The traditional correctional industry is operated by the Department of Corrections and may sell its products only to other state agencies. Goods such as cleaning supplies, office furniture, metal goods and clothing are manufactured. The second type of industry is private correctional industries which are owned and operated by private companies that have their factories in or near a correctional facility. Inmates who work in this program must compete with other offenders for available jobs, submitting resumes and undergoing job interviews for available positions. These jobs also pay the federal minimum wage. Inmates must pay room and board, transportation to work sites and restitution of payment to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund, as well as state and federal taxes.
Contact:
Programs and Staff Development
Kansas Department of Corrections
714 SW Jackson
Suite 300
Topeka, KS 66612
785-296-3317
785-296-0014 fax
Web Site: www.dc.state.ks.us/
Work Release Program
Kansas has a work release program that is available to those offenders who are at minimum custody status, have a good institutional record, and are within a certain time before parole release. Most offenders spend six to nine months in a work release facility transitioning from a secure facility to the community at large. Offenders may also be referred to work release by the parole board prior to parole release to demonstrate his/her ability to function in society.
Contact:
Kansas Department of Corrections
714 SW Jackson
Suite 300
Topeka, KS 66603
785-296-3317
785-296-0014 fax
Web Site: www.dc.state.ks.us/
Pre-Release Program
There is no pre-release program available at the present time for offenders in Kansas. The academic curriculum available at the facilities provide basic learning skills related to specific performance competencies required for successful employment and independent, responsible community living. Most programs available in Kansas are provided through private contractors and are monitored by the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Contact:
Kansas Department of Corrections
714 SW Jackson
Suite 300
Topeka, KS 66603
785-296-3317
785-296-0014 fax
Web Site: www.dc.state.ks.us/
Post-Release Transitional Program
Post-release transitional programming is handled by the Parole Division of the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Contact:
Kansas Department of Corrections
714 SW Jackson
Suite 300
Topeka, KS 66603
785-296-3317
785-296-0014 fax
Division of Community and Field Services
Parole services are part of the Kansas Department of Corrections, Division of Community and Field Services. There are two types of parole supervision in Kansas depending on when the offender was sentenced. For those sentenced prior to September 1993, a release date and time on parole is determined by the parole board. For those sentenced after September 1993, there is a determinate sentence and a court ordered period, usually three to five years, of post release supervision. Recently released offenders must pay a fee for parole supervision. Employment assistance is offered by referrals to the Kansas One Stop Career Centers or directly to employers who are known to hire recently released offenders. Drug treatment and mental health services are available through a referral.
Contact:
Community and Field Services
Kansas Department of Corrections
714 SW Jackson
Suite 300
Topeka, KS 66603
785-296-3317
785-296-0014 fax
Web Site: www.dc.state.ks.us/
Free or low-cost legal resources, both in civil and criminal law, are helpful to individuals with criminal histories in learning about relevant state laws governing the expungement or sealing of criminal histories or addressing other legal issues resulting from having a criminal history.
State Public Defender
Contact:
700 SW Jackson St, Suite 500
Topeka, KS 66603-3714, KS
785-296-6631
Web Site: www.sbids.org/contact.html
State Bar Association
Contact:
1200 Southwest Harrison Street
Topeka, KS 66612-1806
Web Site: www.ksbar.org/
Community agencies are available to assist individuals with criminal records find employment. This information will inform individuals with criminal records about government agencies and community-based organizations that assist with employment, education or vocational training. Researchers and policy makers may find this information useful in identifying agencies and service providers in order to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs.
One-Stop Career Center System
The Kansas One-Stop Career Center System is administered by the Division of Employment and Training of the Kansas Department of Labor. The centers are designed to provide maximum choices in employment, education, training, social service, and other services needed and wanted by the public. The center system has four outcome objectives. One is to make available to all population groups access to job seeking and employment development services. The second is customer choice, allowing job seekers and employer customers to choose select services appropriate to individual needs and interests. Service integration allows for seamless service to the customer and reduces duplication of effort for the service provider. The last objective is accountability. Centers are judged by measurable outcomes designed around customer needs. Kansasjoblink.com is the on-line workplace information service for employers and job seekers. Assistance in creating and posting a resume, as well as job listings are available on-line.
Contact:
Division of Employment and Training
Kansas Department of Labor
401 SW Topeka Boulevard
Topeka, KS 66603
785-296-5000
Web Site: www.dol.ks.gov/jobservice.aspx
Legal Services of Kansas
Kansas Legal Services, in addition to legal assistance, provides employment and life-skills training to low-income Kansans to help them acquire and maintain employment in seven locations across Kansas. The following programs are offered: (1) individual case management; (2) job success, life skills and job-readiness classes; (3) WORKs (to help farmers and ranchers transition to non-farm employment); (4) custom computer training (individual or group classes); and (5) office training and assessment program.
Contact:
Kansas Legal Services
712 South Kansas Avenue
Suite 200
Topeka, KS 66603
785-233-2068
785-354-8311 fax
Web Site: www.kansaslegalservices.org
Forever Crowned Outreach Ministries
Forever Crowned Outreach Ministries, a faith-based organization, offers job search assistance, job mediation, job readiness training, resume assistance and basic computer skills, as well as mentoring, counseling and life skills training to individuals with criminal histories.
Contact:
Forever Crowned Outreach Ministries
2046 East 9th Street North
Wichita, KS 67214