The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) is a critical state agency responsible for managing adult correctional facilities, parole services, and community corrections across Kansas. With a mission to enhance public safety through effective incarceration, rehabilitation, and offender management, KDOC operates several prisons and correctional centers while administering programs aimed at reducing recidivism and supporting crime victims.
After over a decade of operation, KDOC’s public and internal websites were due for a revamp to bring them in line with the latest trends and better CX (Citizen’s Engagement). With more than 3,000 pages of content and thousands of periodical reports and population data sets, the existing site clearly needed re-organization. The navigation needed to be worked on and the Department’s message needed to be repositioned. Here are the areas that needed to be addressed:
The site’s content evolved over time. It needed much due reorganization. Lack of cohesive structure made it difficult for the end users to find relevant information.
The current CMS and implementation did not support the growing needs of the department.
Complex navigation and an inadequate search function did not live up to the requirements of the end users, affecting engagement and the ability to find important content.
KDOC’s core messages clearly needed to be highlighted, and the site needed to be Web Content Accessibility compliance.
The old CMS is not in the position to deliver the scalability that is needed by the department to achieve their goals.
As a government entity, KDOC’s priority is to protect the identity of users and hence needed a FedRAMP-certified platform.
The storage practice definitely needed to be reimagined and bring it in line with the latest Cloud-First Approach to enhance security while cutting the cost down.
KDOC sought a partner capable of not only modernizing their websites but also enhancing the user experience for both staff and the public. Through a competitive RFP bid and recommendations from trusted sources, KDOC and Blue Whale Apps partnered up to modernize the digital platforms.
We began with a thorough analysis, engaging key stakeholders to fully understand KDOC’s objectives, near and long term goals and potential pain points. From there, we identified four primary goals:
Once the strategy was clear, our design team created detailed wireframes and mockups, focusing on intuitive navigation and user-friendly interfaces. These designs were continuously refined through feedback from KDOC, facilitated via Slack and Skype. Accessibility was a priority from the outset, with our designs ensuring a fully compliant and accessible website experience.
We brought the designs to life by adopting WordPress as the new CMS for its flexibility and ease of use. Key elements of the development process included:
Post-launch, we continue to provide training & support to KDOC’s internal teams, ensuring they could manage and update the site independently. Our support didn’t stop there—we provided ongoing assistance and continuous monitoring to address any issues and accommodate future updates.
The impact of the new website exceeded KDOC’s expectations:
By revamping KDOC’s public and internal websites, BlueWhale Apps helped the department enhance its online presence, improve citizen’s experience, and ensure scalability for the future. Our comprehensive approach, from strategy to ongoing support, delivered a platform that not only met today’s needs but is ready for the challenges of tomorrow.
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