Prisons

Prison Officials Agree To Make Sure Honolulu Medics Stay Safe In Facilities David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Prison Officials Agree To Make Sure Honolulu Medics Stay Safe In Facilities

The city and state quickly came to an agreement after EMS warned it would no longer enter Hālawa prison or the Oʻahu jail because of security concerns.

Honolulu EMS Chief Says Medics Aren’t Safe In Oʻahu Prisons Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2017

Honolulu EMS Chief Says Medics Aren’t Safe In Oʻahu Prisons

Recent incidents at two state facilities prompted a letter to state prison officials telling them medical crews won’t be going inside the jails and prison anymore.

State To Open Prisons And Jails For Inspection Of Mental Health Services Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019

State To Open Prisons And Jails For Inspection Of Mental Health Services

A pair of national experts will determine what is needed to improve services for mentally ill inmates. Then lawmakers will be asked to fund the fixes.

It’s Your Money: Youth Facility Can Spend Up To $80,000 On Fast Food David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025

It’s Your Money: Youth Facility Can Spend Up To $80,000 On Fast Food

For the third year in a row, the Hawaiʻi Youth Correctional Facility’s kitchen is understaffed, so it is turning to plate lunches for emergency meals.

‘Damning’ Report: Hawaiʻi Falls Short Helping Inmates Reenter Society Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

‘Damning’ Report: Hawaiʻi Falls Short Helping Inmates Reenter Society

The study says the lack of effective reentry programs is one reason so many inmates get in trouble again soon after release.

Half Of Hawaiʻi Inmates Leave Prison Without The IDs They Need To Start Over Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025

Half Of Hawaiʻi Inmates Leave Prison Without The IDs They Need To Start Over

More than seven years after Hawaiʻi passed a law meant to address the problem, the number of people leaving prison and jail without key documents has barely budged.

Windward Community College Expands Hawaiian Studies To Arizona Prison Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2016

Windward Community College Expands Hawaiian Studies To Arizona Prison

The college launched a Hawaiian studies program at Halawa Correctional Facility in 2022, but found many students dropped out because they were sent to an Arizona prison.

ACLU Cites ‘Pattern Of Violence’ After Killing At Oʻahu Jail Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

ACLU Cites ‘Pattern Of Violence’ After Killing At Oʻahu Jail

The death of OCCC inmate Eric Scotton is apparently the third homicide in the Hawaiʻi correctional system in less than a year.

Former Guard Admits To Mailing Illegal Fireworks To Hawaii Jail  Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Former Guard Admits To Mailing Illegal Fireworks To Hawaii Jail 

Gilchrist Fernandez faces up to three months imprisonment for having nearly 95 pounds of aerial fireworks mailed to the facility he was guarding.

Report: Hawai‘i Prison Guards Face ‘Unsustainable’ Working Conditions Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Report: Hawai‘i Prison Guards Face ‘Unsustainable’ Working Conditions

Staff vacancies require corrections officers to work 16- or 24-hour shifts, and the mandatory overtime takes a toll.