Kansas is already ahead of the curve when it comes to criminal justice. Now the state is teaming up with two national foundations to take steps even further toward a safer, more cost-effective state.

The state wants to reduce repeat criminals and slow the growth in the state's prison population.

Roger Werholtz, Kansas Department of Corrections, said, “When we look at criticisms that come our way, it's criticism about what happens after offenders leave prison and return to the community.”

The issue of planning for offender re-entry has become a huge concern in recent years.

Dr. Anthony Fabelo, Council of State Governments, said, “68% of people coming into the prison system are already failing.”

Werholtz said, “[Prison] population is projected to grow about 1800 people beyond the capacity if we don't do anything differently than we’re doing right now.”

The Kansas Sentencing Commission projects the prison population will increase 26% over the next nine years. That will cost $500-million in new prison construction and operating costs.

Werholtz said, “About 5800 people leave our prisons and live in our communities. We want those people to live law-abiding lifestyles when they do.”

Many state policy-makers want to develop a 3-part strategy: reduce repeat criminal behavior, avert the cost of building and operating additional prisons, and improve conditions in the neighborhoods to which people in prison will likely return.

Rep. Ward Loyd, (R) Garden City, said, “If we do what we know can be done, we can reduce the number of crimes and decrease the likelihood of more victims.”

Now two national foundations are helping Kansas combat this issue financially and creatively. Why Kansas? They said because the state is already ahead of the game.

Lori Grange, The PEW Charitable Trusts, said, “It truly is a national exemplar in this area.”

Robert Crane, JEHT Foundation of New York, said, “This state has done more comprehensive plans for going forward than any other state we've worked with to date.”

To help keep criminals from coming back into prisons, the Department of Corrections would work with inmates and identify any personal issues that would likely cause repeat criminal behavior.

The next step is for legislators, state officials and local leaders to talk about what direction the state should take regarding this issue in the next few years. That will start this next legislative session.