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Prisons

Hawaii Prisons Need More Thorough Internal Investigations, Commission Says Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019

Hawaii Prisons Need More Thorough Internal Investigations, Commission Says

The state corrections commission encountered an array of problems during facility tours, including some serious safety violations.

4 Oahu Inmates Face Manslaughter Charge In Fellow Prisoner’s Death (Courtesy photo Department of Public Safety)

4 Oahu Inmates Face Manslaughter Charge In Fellow Prisoner’s Death

Christopher Vaefaga was found unconscious and unresponsive in his cell in a module used to house gang members.

Hawaii Prison Chief Wants Department Changes To Bring ‘Paradigm Shift’ David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Hawaii Prison Chief Wants Department Changes To Bring ‘Paradigm Shift’

Tommy Johnson will become the director of Corrections and Rehabilitation after the Public Safety Department is dissolved on Monday.

Prisons Director And Corrections Commission Agree To Keep Talking And Meeting David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Prisons Director And Corrections Commission Agree To Keep Talking And Meeting

After a brief impasse, Department of Public Safety Director Tommy Johnson is once again participating in meetings.

Hawaii Inmate In Arizona Prison Died With Meth In His System Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Hawaii Inmate In Arizona Prison Died With Meth In His System

Other prisoners were seen entering the cell of Richard Taylor Jr. before his body was found at the Saguaro Correctional Center.

Hawaii Prisons Oversight Commissioner Resigns Due To Health Concerns PF Bentley/Civil Beat/2014

Hawaii Prisons Oversight Commissioner Resigns Due To Health Concerns

Colleagues praised Ted Sakai for his decades of service, saying he dedicated his career to making the system more humane.

The Money Is There, But This Restorative Justice Program Can’t Get It David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

The Money Is There, But This Restorative Justice Program Can’t Get It

The Legislature appropriated $200,000 to expand the program, but the Department of Public Safety says the bids for the funding haven’t met requirements.

Ben Lowenthal: We’re Failing Our Community When We Banish Prisoners To The Mainland Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Ben Lowenthal: We’re Failing Our Community When We Banish Prisoners To The Mainland

Justice Thurgood Marshall called banishment a “unique and severe deprivation,” but Hawaii shows no indication of stopping.

Hawaii Prison Oversight Meetings Are Missing A Key Player — The Prisons Director Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Hawaii Prison Oversight Meetings Are Missing A Key Player — The Prisons Director

Tommy Johnson told the oversight coordinator that neither he nor his staff will attend the meetings, though they’ll engage in other ways.

Halawa Prison Electrical Problems Leave Inmates Sitting In The Dark Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2017

Halawa Prison Electrical Problems Leave Inmates Sitting In The Dark

The Department of Public Safety is trying to determine the scope of the problem, and what it will take to fix it.