In part, the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Mission Statement states, "...actively encouraging (inmates) and assisting them to become law-abiding citizens. "The fourth Value listed under the KDOC Mission Statement is: We respect the dignity of individuals, the rights of all members of society and the potential for human growth, development, and behavioral adjustment. We recognize that offenders have the potential to live as law-abiding citizens. Within this Value, there are two Principles of note: (1) Programs and opportunities to assist offenders in developing social and living skills will enhance their potential to become law-abiding citizens. We encourage offenders to participate in such programs and will strive to motivate them to contribute to their development. (2) Offender work programs and employment play a critical role in developing skills and abilities which will serve offenders on release, contribute to the good order and management of institutions, contribute to offenders success in the community, and reflect our society's belief in the value of work.

One of the most beneficial tools the KDOC has to meet this Value and subsequent Principles is through the private industries program. These programs, which are both prison, and non-prison based, are joint ventures between the KDOC and private corporations. There are fifteen industries, to include three non-prison based industries located at the Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF). These fifteen industries are: Impact Design, Jensen Engineering, Heatron, Henke Manufacturing, United Rotary Brush, Zephyr Products, BAC Inc, CompuChair, VW Services, Reimers Furniture Manufacturing, Aramark, and Prime Wood.

These programs have a far-reaching benefit aside from assisting an inmate in obtaining work skills and work ethic. They are required to pay the following from their weekly paycheck.

* Employer Deductions

* Federal Income tax

* State Income tax

* Social Security tax

* Correctional Facility Deductions

* Room, Board Deduction is 25% of Gross wage as well as $2.10 per day for transportation to and from work.

* Dependent Support - The inmate is responsible to pay all court ordered support.

* Victims Compensation - Each month 5% of gross wages paid to an inmate employed in a private industry program is deducted and paid to the Crime Victims Compensation Reparation Board for the purpose of victims compensations, unless inmate is paying court ordered restitution.

* Court Ordered Payments - Any payment of victim's compensation or dependent support mandated by a court decision shall be deducted and forwarded to the proper authority.

* Mandatory Savings - After the deductions noted above have been made, 10% of the inmate's remaining salary is deposited in a savings account for disbursement to the inmate only upon release from custody.

Upon deducting the mandatory deductions, the remaining net balance is placed into the inmate's institutional account.

Public benefit ranges from monies being placed into tax supported programs, i.e. Crime Victims Reparation Board to the inmate's mandatory savings. Typically, upon release, an inmate receives a $100.00 "gate check." Upon release, an inmate is immediately responsible for rent, utilities, transportation, food, etc. In many cases, an inmate upon release only has this $100.00 "gate money" available. Therefore, the money in the inmate's mandatory savings allows the inmate a better opportunity to succeed upon his / her release from prison from a financial standpoint as they transition back into public life. Also, the inmates assigned to private industry typically do not receive the $100.00 "gate money" due to the mandatory savings, thus, additional savings to the tax-payers.