Schema: Article + FAQPage
Internal links (5): Kansas inmate search, send money to Kansas inmates, Kansas reentry resources, Staying Connected hub, how prison works hub
Voice: Formerly-incarcerated narrator. Plain, direct, honest. Written to the family member on the outside.
META BLOCK:
Family Rights and Advocacy in Kansas | InmateAid
Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) uses three separate vendors for family communication -- and that is the first thing families need to understand, because it means three separate accounts.
- **Phone calls**: ICS Corrections (ICSolutions.com). Customer service: **1-888-506-8407**.
- **Messaging and tablets**: ViaPath (GettingOut). Set up at gettingout.com/kansas-doc/. ViaPath support: **866-516-0115**.
- **Video visitation**: ICS Solutions (separate from phone). Register at icsolutions.com. Video visits are NOT available through the ViaPath tablet.
Each has a separate account. Each has separate approval requirements. Families in Kansas frequently discover this when they try to video visit through one platform and find it does not work because the other platform is what KDOC uses for that service.
Kansas uses the term **"residents"** for incarcerated people, consistent with a rehabilitative framing used by several states in this series.
Kansas has approximately 8,000-9,000 incarcerated people in state facilities. Kansas Appleseed and the ACLU of Kansas are the primary advocacy contacts. **Legal Services for Prisoners, Inc.** was confirmed active in Kansas as recently as July 2025 (prisonpolicy.org). The advocacy infrastructure is smaller than some states, but it exists.
Kansas KDOC also runs a **Play Free program** -- a partnership with the Kansas Children's Discovery Center that brings a mobile museum experience to families of incarcerated parents at correctional facilities. If you have children, this is worth knowing about.
KDOC inmate locator: **KASPER** (Kansas Adult Supervised Population Electronic Repository) at doc.ks.gov.
What Families Are Facing in Kansas
Kansas KDOC operates state prisons across a large state. Major facilities:
- **Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF)** -- Lansing, Leavenworth County (near Kansas City and the Missouri border); 301 E. Kansas Ave., Lansing, KS 66043; phone: 913-727-3235; largest facility
- **Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF)** -- Hutchinson, Reno County (central Kansas; about 50 miles northwest of Wichita)
- **El Dorado Correctional Facility** -- El Dorado, Butler County (south-central Kansas)
- **Topeka Correctional Facility (TCF)** -- Topeka, Shawnee County; primary women's facility
- **Norton Correctional Facility** -- Norton, Norton County (far northwest Kansas; approximately 4 hours from Wichita or Kansas City -- one of the most remote facilities in the system)
- **Ellsworth Correctional Facility** -- Ellsworth, Ellsworth County (central Kansas)
- **Winfield Correctional Facility** -- Winfield, Cowley County (south-central Kansas)
Norton is particularly remote. For a family in Wichita or Kansas City with a loved one at Norton: a 4-hour drive through the western Kansas plains, one way. Phone and tablet contact become the primary connection for most families with loved ones at remote facilities.
On phone: ICS Corrections. Account setup at icsolutions.com or call 1-888-506-8407. Residents cannot call cell phones unless a prepaid account is established by the family through ICS. Calling cards are not part of the KDOC contract with ICS -- they will not work.
On messaging: ViaPath (GettingOut). A separate account at gettingout.com/kansas-doc/. Entertainment content on tablets costs $0.04-$0.06/min. Messaging rates vary -- verify through GettingOut.
On video visits: ICS Solutions "The Visitor" system. Must be an approved KDOC visitor before registering. Register at icsolutions.com. Off-site video visits require downloading and testing the application from a Windows computer, Android, or iOS device before scheduling.
On money: Access Corrections (accesscorrections.com). Deposits online, by phone, or via mail.
On mail: Physical mail to facility addresses. KDOC has not announced a system-wide digital mail scanning transition as of research. Verify current policy for the specific facility at doc.ks.gov.
Your Rights as a Family Member in Kansas
Visitation rights
To visit a KDOC resident, the resident must first apply for visiting privileges by completing a KDOC visitation application listing the names of people they wish to allow for visits. KDOC performs background checks on prospective visitors. Once approved, family members can schedule visits.
In-person visit scheduling: through ICS Solutions at icsolutions.com. Bring government-issued photo ID to the facility.
Video visits: through ICS Solutions "The Visitor" system. Must be approved as a KDOC visitor before registering for video visitation. Register at icsolutions.com. Off-site visits require download and testing of the application before scheduling.
KDOC's Topeka Correctional Facility (women's facility) has hosted the Play Free mobile museum program for families with children of incarcerated parents. For families with children visiting incarcerated parents, ask the facility about current programs and support.
Communication rights
Three-platform communication structure:
- Phone: ICS Corrections; prepaid account at icsolutions.com or 1-888-506-8407
- Messaging: ViaPath/GettingOut at gettingout.com/kansas-doc/
- Video: ICS Solutions at icsolutions.com (separate from phone account)
No chain dialing, 3-way calling, call forwarding, or extra digit dialing permitted on phone calls. No calling cards accepted. All calls recorded except legal calls to attorneys.
For emergencies: during regular business hours, call the facility directly and ask to be connected to the resident counselor's office. After hours/weekends/holidays, verified emergencies will be passed to the resident at the earliest possible time.
Notification rights
KDOC is not required to notify family of transfers. Use KASPER at doc.ks.gov to track current location. KDOC notifies next of kin for serious medical emergencies and deaths -- your loved one must have designated you in their records.
Grievance rights
Internal KDOC grievances must be filed by the resident. Family members cannot file internal grievances.
External pathways for families:
- KDOC contacts at doc.ks.gov/contacts/
- ACLU of Kansas (aclukansas.org) for rights violations
- Kansas Appleseed (kansasappleseed.org) for policy advocacy
- Legal Services for Prisoners, Inc. (see below)
- Your Kansas state legislators at kslegislature.org
KDOC Official Contact
KDOC main contacts: doc.ks.gov/contacts/
Resident locator: KASPER at doc.ks.gov
For emergencies during business hours: call the facility directly and ask for the resident counselor's office.
Lansing Correctional Facility (largest facility):
301 E. Kansas Ave., Lansing, KS 66043
Phone: 913-727-3235
Kansas Family and Advocacy Organizations
Kansas Appleseed
kansasappleseed.org
720 SW Jackson Street, Suite 900, Topeka, KS 66603
Phone: 785-251-8160
Kansas Appleseed is a policy advocacy organization that addresses economic justice and equity in Kansas, including engagement on criminal justice reform issues. They track Kansas legislation affecting incarcerated people and their families, engage with state policy processes, and collaborate with other advocacy organizations. For families who want to engage in state-level advocacy or understand current legislation affecting KDOC, Kansas Appleseed is a contact.
ACLU of Kansas
aclukansas.org
6701 W. 64th Street, Suite 210, Overland Park, KS 66202
Phone: 913-490-4100
The ACLU of Kansas handles civil rights cases including prisoners' rights. They engage on conditions of confinement, solitary confinement, medical care, and systemic issues at KDOC. They do not take individual grievance cases routinely. Contact them when the issue involves a pattern of rights violations, unconstitutional conditions, or retaliation.
Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM)
famm.org
National network including Kansas families. For families with loved ones serving excessive mandatory minimum sentences.
Play Free Program (Kansas Children's Discovery Center / KDOC)
KDOC's partnership with the Kansas Children's Discovery Center (KCDC) brings a mobile museum experience to families impacted by incarceration -- bringing educational play directly to incarcerated parents and their children at Kansas correctional facilities. The program has been active at HCF (Hutchinson Correctional Facility) for nearly two years as of 2026. Contact the specific facility or KDOC through doc.ks.gov for current program availability at your loved one's facility.
Prison Families Alliance -- Kansas
prisonfamiliesalliance.org
Connects Kansas families to peer support and local resources.
Prisoner Rights Organizations Families Can Contact on Their Loved One's Behalf
Legal Services for Prisoners, Inc.
Confirmed listing on Prison Policy Initiative's Kansas legal resource list as of July 7, 2025. Provides legal assistance to incarcerated people in Kansas. Contact through the Prison Policy Initiative's Kansas legal resources page at prisonpolicy.org/resources/legal/KS/ or verify current contact information there.
ACLU of Kansas
aclukansas.org | 913-490-4100
Primary prisoner rights legal organization in Kansas. For systemic conditions issues, documented abuse, or civil rights violations. Does not take individual grievance cases routinely.
Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC)
humanrightsdefensecenter.org
Phone (for family members): 561-360-2523
HRDC advocates on phone costs, publications access, and government accountability. Kansas uses ICS Corrections for phones -- HRDC has expertise on ICS practices. If your loved one has had publications or mail wrongfully blocked, or if phone costs are a concern, HRDC can advise.
Kansas Legal Services
kansaslegalservices.org
Phone: 1-800-723-6953
Kansas Legal Services provides free civil legal assistance to income-eligible Kansans. Can assist with civil matters related to incarceration and may provide referrals.
How to File a Complaint on Your Loved One's Behalf
Step 1: Document everything specific
Date, facility, staff name if known, what happened. Specific documentation is the foundation of any effective complaint.
Step 2: Contact the facility directly
For issues resolvable at the facility level, contact the Warden's office at the specific facility. Contact information at doc.ks.gov/contacts/.
Step 3: KDOC central office
For issues not resolved at the facility level. Contact information at doc.ks.gov/contacts/.
Step 4: Contact your Kansas state legislators
State senator and state representative at kslegislature.org. Legislative oversight of KDOC is the most effective external pressure available for documented systemic issues.
Step 5: Contact advocacy organizations
ACLU of Kansas (913-490-4100), Kansas Appleseed (785-251-8160), or FAMM for guidance on whether the situation warrants legal or advocacy intervention.
Step 6: Federal escalation
For civil rights violations: U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (justice.gov/crt). For federal facilities in Kansas: BOP North Central Region.
What families cannot compel: You cannot file an internal KDOC grievance for your loved one. You cannot override security or disciplinary decisions. External organizations can investigate and advocate but cannot guarantee outcomes.
Staying Connected: The Practical Guide for Kansas Families
The three-vendor structure -- one account for each service type -- is the most important operational fact for Kansas families. Confirm which account type you need before setting one up.
Phone calls
ICS Corrections (ICS Corrections, Inc.)
Set up prepaid account at icsolutions.com or call **1-888-506-8407**
Residents cannot call cell phones unless a prepaid account is established by the family through ICS.
No calling cards accepted. No chain dialing, 3-way calling, call forwarding.
All calls recorded except legal calls.
Post-FCC rate caps (April 2026) apply.
Messaging and tablets
ViaPath (GettingOut)
Set up account at gettingout.com/kansas-doc/ or download the GettingOut app.
ViaPath Support: **866-516-0115**
KDOC ViaPath assistance: **785-746-7542**
Entertainment content: $0.04/min (standard), $0.06/min (premium)
Video visits are NOT available through ViaPath tablets -- use ICS Solutions for video.
Video visitation
ICS Solutions "The Visitor"
Register at icsolutions.com
Must be approved as a KDOC visitor BEFORE registering for video visitation.
Off-site video visits require downloading and testing the application in advance.
Physical mail to facility address. Confirm current mailing policy and address for the specific facility at doc.ks.gov. KDOC has not announced a system-wide digital mail scanning transition.
Sending money
Access Corrections: accesscorrections.com
Online, phone, or mail deposits.
Locating your loved one
KASPER (Kansas Adult Supervised Population Electronic Repository): doc.ks.gov
InmateAid Kansas inmate search: [internal link]
Supporting Yourself While Supporting Them
Kansas families navigating KDOC deal with a three-platform communication structure that has no equivalent in most other states in this series. The fragmentation -- separate accounts for phone, messaging, and video -- is a real burden. Confirm which platform does what before setting anything up.
The Play Free program at KDOC facilities is a concrete, positive program for families with children. It is worth asking about at your loved one's facility.
Kansas Appleseed (kansasappleseed.org) is engaged on criminal justice policy in Kansas. For families who want to participate in state-level reform advocacy -- particularly around sentencing, conditions, or family connection policies -- they are the contact.
FAMM (famm.org) connects Kansas families to a national advocacy community for sentencing reform.
Worth Rises (worthrises.org) tracks ICS Corrections and ViaPath costs nationally. If the fragmented Kansas vendor structure results in excessive fees, Worth Rises documents them.
Dial **211** for community resource referrals in your Kansas county.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Kansas use three different vendors for communication?
Kansas KDOC has separate contracts with ICS Corrections for phone calls, ViaPath (GettingOut) for tablets and messaging, and ICS Solutions for video visitation. Each requires a separate account. Video visits cannot be made through the ViaPath tablet -- they go through ICS Solutions. This is one of the more fragmented communication structures in any state in this series.
How do I set up phone calls with someone in a Kansas DOC facility?
ICS Corrections is the phone vendor. Set up a prepaid account at icsolutions.com or call 1-888-506-8407. Your loved one must have your number on their approved call list. Calling cards are not accepted. No 3-way calling or call forwarding.
How do I set up messaging and send photos?
Through ViaPath's GettingOut platform. Create an account at gettingout.com/kansas-doc/ or download the GettingOut app. ViaPath Support: 866-516-0115. KDOC ViaPath assistance: 785-746-7542. Note: video visits are NOT available through this platform.
How do I set up video visitation in Kansas?
Through ICS Solutions "The Visitor" system at icsolutions.com. You must first be approved as a KDOC visitor (background check) before registering for video visitation. Off-site visits require downloading and testing the application on your device before scheduling.
What is the Play Free program?
A KDOC partnership with the Kansas Children's Discovery Center (KCDC) that brings a mobile museum experience to facilities, letting incarcerated parents engage in educational play with their children during visits. Active at Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF) and other facilities. Ask the specific facility for current program availability.
What is KASPER?
The Kansas Adult Supervised Population Electronic Repository -- KDOC's online inmate locator at doc.ks.gov. Search by name or offender ID to find your loved one's current facility.
Who do I contact if my loved one's rights are being violated in Kansas?
ACLU of Kansas (aclukansas.org; 913-490-4100) for civil rights violations and conditions of confinement issues. Legal Services for Prisoners, Inc. (confirmed active July 2025 in Kansas; find current contact at prisonpolicy.org/resources/legal/KS/). Kansas state legislators at kslegislature.org. For federal civil rights violations: DOJ Civil Rights Division (justice.gov/crt). --- [SPEC NOTE: Series folder 1intOvghBAhj6-_YzDsYllOy4scUOeEGh. Internal CTAs: Kansas inmate search, send money to Kansas inmates, Kansas reentry resources, Staying Connected hub, how prison works hub. SOURCING: doc.ks.gov/facilities/inmate-communications/Resident-telephone May 2023 (provider resident telephone service ICS Corrections Inc.; customer service called parties establish pre-paid account 1-888-506-8407 or accounts set up online no cost icsolutions.com; residents cannot call cell phones unless prepaid account established; done by family calling 1-888-506-8407; chain dialing 3-way calling call forwarding dialing extra digits not permitted; calling cards not part contract inmate telephone service provider; verifiable emergency serious illness death family call facility; regular business hours forwarded resident counselor's office; after hours weekends holidays verified emergencies passed resident earliest possible time); doc.ks.gov/facilities/inmate-communications/electronic-messaging May 2023 (video visits handled separate vendor not available through ViaPath tablet; more information available KDOC webpage; entertainment content charged per minute rate $0.04 standard $0.06 premium; costs deducted resident's ViaPath account funds; two options setting up accessing ViaPath account one account needed send messages deposit funds; visit gettingout.com/kansas-doc/ to create ViaPath account; download free GettingOut mobile app Android iOS; questions GettingOut account contact ViaPath Support gettingout.com/contact-us/ or calling 866-516-0115; further assistance call 785-746-7542 leave detailed message); thevisitor.icsenforcer.com/index.php/jail-information/246-ksdoc.html (Kansas DOC offers The Visitor video visitation system; register for visitation icsolutions.com; all visitors required follow Kansas DOC processes become approved visitor before completing registration video visitation; not approved KDOC before registering account will not be allowed schedule video visitation sessions; off-site visitation download test visitation application Windows computer Android iOS device before schedule visitation; ICSolutions Customer Portal log in create account view product availability); doc.ks.gov/facilities/faq/communication/phone February 2021 (friends family establish accounts contacting inmate telephone service provider ICS Corrections Inc. pre-paid account 1-888-506-8407 or accounts set up online no cost icsolutions.com; inmates cannot call cell phones unless pre-paid account established; calling cards not part contract ICS; chain dialing 3-way calling call forwarding extra digits not permitted); kansasarrestsearch.org September 2024 (ViaPath Technologies offers electronic messaging services families send messages photos short video clips; financial support managed through Access Corrections accesscorrections.com deposit money inmate trust account online phone mail; in-person visits require advance scheduling through ICSolutions online scheduler); doc.ks.gov/ April 2026 (Play Free program partnership Kansas Children's Discovery Center KCDC nearly two years strengthening bonds incarcerated parents children through power of play; mobile museum experience bringing high-quality educational play directly to families impacted by incarceration; HCF 03 09 26 David Thompson April 10 2026); doc.ks.gov/facilities/lcf August 2025 (Lansing Correctional Facility 301 E. Kansas Ave. Lansing KS 66043 913-727-3235); prisonpolicy.org/resources/legal/KS (Legal Services Prisoners Inc. confirmed listing July 07 2025); kansasappleseed.org 720 SW Jackson Street Suite 900 Topeka KS 66603 785-251-8160; aclukansas.org 6701 W. 64th Street Suite 210 Overland Park KS 66202 913-490-4100; kansaslegalservices.org 1-800-723-6953; famm.org; worthrises.org; humanrightsdefensecenter.org 561-360-2523; accesscorrections.com; kslegislature.org; justice.gov/crt; 211 Kansas; gettingout.com/kansas-doc/. NOTE for Poorwa: CRITICAL -- verify three-vendor structure still in effect: ICS Corrections for phone (1-888-506-8407 icsolutions.com), ViaPath GettingOut for messaging (gettingout.com/kansas-doc/ 866-516-0115), ICS Solutions for video (icsolutions.com The Visitor); verify video visits NOT available through ViaPath tablet (confirmed doc.ks.gov electronic messaging page May 2023 -- verify still current); verify Access Corrections accesscorrections.com still Kansas money vendor; verify KASPER at doc.ks.gov current inmate locator; verify LCF 913-727-3235 current; verify KDOC contacts at doc.ks.gov/contacts/ current; verify Kansas mail policy -- no digital mail scanning? (not confirmed in research); verify Kansas Appleseed 785-251-8160 kansasappleseed.org current; verify ACLU Kansas 913-490-4100 aclukansas.org current; verify Legal Services for Prisoners Inc. current contact (July 2025 confirmed active prisonpolicy.org/resources/legal/KS/); verify Kansas Legal Services 1-800-723-6953 kansaslegalservices.org current; verify Play Free program current status and which facilities; verify 785-746-7542 KDOC ViaPath assistance number still current; verify GettingOut app ViaPath messaging costs current; verify FCC rate caps apply to ICS Corrections Kansas; verify KDOC term residents still in use; len/char check before publish.]
Discovery Offer - Silos 1-2
Search arrest records and find out where they are
If you're trying to locate someone who was arrested or find out where they are being held, TruthFinder searches arrest records, court records, and custody status across all 50 states.