Kelly budget excludes funding for Hutchinson prison rebuild

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Governor Laura Kelly’s proposed budget does not include funding to rebuild the deteriorating Hutchinson Correctional Facility, despite the Governor’s office calling the project a priority.

In 2024, the Kansas Department of Corrections projected rebuilding the prison would cost $453 million. That number has risen due to inflation.

On January 30, the lawmakers will hold a joint committee hearing to go over what conditions are currently like HCF. Republican Representative and chair of the corrections committee Bob Lewis of Garden City said are poor for inmates and staff.

“It’s not only the inmates that have to live in these conditions, but the staff who work 7,8,9 hours a day. They have to be in that same facility, without air conditioning in the summer,” Lewis said.

In November, Correction Secretary Jeff Zmuda told the Joint Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice that the prison is in poor condition.

The facility houses roughly 1,800 male inmates.

There’s also the option to renovate the Hutchinson prison, which Zmuda previously priced at $80 million. However, that projected price tag didn’t include the required renovation to bring the prison up to ADA standards.

Governor blames Legislature for rejecting previous plan

Despite warnings last fall and a rejected proposal in 2024, the Governor’s latest budget includes no funding to rebuild the prison.

In a statement to 12 News, the Governor’s office said that rebuilding Hutchinson Correctional Facility should be a priority.

“Governor Kelly believes that rebuilding HCF should be a priority and is why she proposed the construction of a new prison – with cash – in her 2024 budget. Unfortunately, this fiscally responsible approach was rejected by the Legislature. It is now time for them to come up with a plan that is both fiscally responsible and ensures the health and safety of residents and staff,” the statement said.

Related Content

• Kansas Department of Corrections pushing for new Hutchinson prison

Prison dates to late 1800s

The building is well over a century old, and in November, Zmuda said HCF is not compliant with some national standards.

“Several structures within the Hutchinson Correctional Facility were built between 1889 and 1912, which makes it one of the oldest prisons in the country. The antiquated facility is both costly for taxpayers to maintain and does not meet modern prison standards,” a statement from the Governor’s office reads.

Some cells at HCF are as small as 40 square feet, or the size of a king-size bed, which is not in line with the American Correctional Association standard of 70 square feet. Zmuda told legislators in November that the facility’s condition could lead to a lawsuit.