GUESTS: Sam Cline, Warden for Hutchinson Correctional Facility, Victor Curtis, Jeff Robersons Father-In-Law and Annette Roberson, Jeffs wife (who use to work at HCF).
FINES: Ward Davis and Tom Hymer were our Sergeants. Brad Thompson and Larry Sloan were fined for not stepping in as Sergeants this morning or it may have been retribution, only the Sergeants know for sure. All members who did not show up to inventory T-shirts last Wednesday night were fined. The fines proved very plentiful and they were done.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Terry Brigman announced that Harley Macklin had triple bypass surgery and is recovering. We wish him well! Doug Foss reported that the recipient of an AmTryke that we awarded in Lyndon, Kansas is doing well with it.
PROGRAM: Jeff Roberson introduced Warden Sam Cline, Hutchinson Correctional Facility. Sam has been working in the correction industry for 27 years in Hutchinson and 4 years at Ellsworth. He has served as Warden here for the past 6 years. Sam said the State changed the name of the facility from Kansas State Industrial Reformatory (KSIR) to Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF) in 1992 to be more politically correct. HCF is the second largest prison in the State with 1,883 men. There are 550+ State employees and 120 contract employees here. The monthly payroll is about $2 million. The average inmate age is 35 but they are physically closer to 60. Sex offenders are the largest and fastest growing inmate group. The recidivism (return) rate here once was 50-60% and is now 32.7% because they either stay out, go elsewhere or die. Unfortunately the State population is still increasing at an alarming rate. There are now 8 different prison facilities in the state with 9,200+ inmates. Inmate location is based on their risk level. It costs $68 a day to house an inmate. Once an inmate is within 8 years of release he can work in one of the industries. Inmates can earn from $.45 cents a day down to $0 depending on their attitude. Their earnings either help pay restitution, expenses or can be saved for release. 8 local companies hire inmates to work for them. Kansas Correction Industries still builds office furniture here but it is very hard to compete in that market. They no longer build cabins. Their mattress recycling program is one of their best industries. The mustang horse and K-9 dog care help problem inmates to reduce their aggression through animal care. Some inmates are now 70-80 years old and are not able to function well or safely at a facility such as ours. A new prison at Oswego specializes in handling the aging inmate population. 3 to 4 inmates die here a year usually under hospice care. Sam has done very well with this facility and HCF will be in Hutchinson for many years to come.
50/50 Drawing: Fred Lucky Conner won $14 after returning from snowbird Arizona.
Newsletter Drawing: Jeff Roberson did not know the answer to the question.
Newsletter question: For $30, there are currently how many inmates at HCF?
Next Weeks Program: No cluecome find out.
Editor: Steve Conard