EDCF is the location of the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Reception and Diagnostic Unit (RDU), which processes every male inmate when they are received into custody.

RDU helps determine the inmate's custody level, mental health classification, and educational program needs before he is assigned to a facility.

EDCF is administratively linked to two minimum security units, formerly "honor camps", one in El Dorado and one in Toronto, Kansas.

The state chose El Dorado to house most male condemned prisoners as they wanted different employees to supervise them for the majority of the time from the ones who would be implementing capital punishment.

Inmates Jesse Bell and Steven Ford escaped with the assistance of former corrections officer, Amber Goff.