Mike Town, who retired in 2010, was appointed by Senate President Ron Kouchi.
Hawaii Behind Bars
How Hawaii is managing its troubled prison system, including four prisons and four jails in Hawaii, and a contract private prison in Arizona.
Posted inHawaii Behind Bars
New Prison Oversight Commission Is Off To A Slow Start
Reforming Hawaii’s aging and overcrowded prisons was a notable accomplishment of the 2019 Legislature. So what’s happened?
Posted inHawaii Behind Bars
Maui Riot Just The Latest Sign Of Trouble In State’s Overcrowded Jails
Pretrial detainees make up a big part of the inmate population. Meanwhile, most proposed reforms appear dead in Legislature.
Posted inHawaii Behind Bars
21 Maui Inmates Transferred to Halawa After Riot
UPDATED: The pretrial detainees were upset about jail overcrowding, according to Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda.
Posted inOpinion
Hawaii Prisons: ‘You Can’t Have A System Policing Itself’
A bill to establish an independent commission to oversee the state’s jails and prisons clears the House and heads to the Senate.
Posted inOpinion
The Roadblocks Are Rising For Much-Touted Bail Reform
Despite passing the Hawaii House with unanimous support, the bill may face a rockier time in the Senate.
Posted inOpinion
Bringing The Right To Vote Behind Bars
Supporters, including the Department of Public Safety, are backing legislation that would make Hawaii one of a handful of states that allow inmates to cast a ballot.
Posted inOpinion
Hawaii Could Really Use This Federal Prison That Has Plenty Of Empty Cells
Legislation to negotiate for the acquisition of the Federal Detention Center is moving rapidly through the Legislature, but the idea still faces big obstacles.
Posted inOpinion
Lawmakers: Release Information When A Prisoner Dies
As the death toll mounts for inmates in custody, legislators push bills to force disclosure of information.