Hawaii Behind Bars

Hawaii may soon face legal claims over prisoners infected with valley fever, a disease endemic in the Southwest.

Hawaii lets its for-profit prison contractor set its own rules for what it terms “disciplinary segregation,” instead of solitary confinement.

Prison officials extend the existing CCA contract until end of July while the discussions continue.

Valley fever is widespread in the Southwest, yet Hawaii’s prison officials haven’t paid much attention to it, despite the recent deaths of at least two Hawaii prisoners who had the disease.

The state has little data on the effect of shipping prisoners to Arizona, but studies say a lack of family contact makes it harder to go straight.

Many of the costs the state pays aren’t detailed in budget documents. And the expense is not the only issue.

Even when prisoners are murdered, state officials and their private contractor shield themselves from the public eye.