HONOLULU (KHON2) — The state is looking at spending millions of dollars to beef up security at Hawaii’s prisons. This comes after reports of sexual abuse in the past and the smuggling of illegal drugs into facilities.
In May 2023, the state reached a $2 million settlement in a lawsuit brought by six women who claimed they were sexually assaulted by former corrections officers. The State Attorney General’s Office said it happened at the Women’s Community Correctional Center.
“Two years ago, the commission had reported that only 40 percent of the cameras were working at the women’s facility and that was of extreme concern to the commission,” said Christin Johnson, Hawaii Correctional Oversight Commission Oversight Coordinator.
Now the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is looking to spend nearly $3 million on new security cameras at WCCC.
“We’re starting with WCCC, because we believe that’s the most vulnerable facility and so we’re replacing old cameras and inoperable cameras,” said Tommy Johnson, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Director.
The department said the cameras will be placed in “blind spots” and control stations to better monitor inmate and visitor movement.
“We think it’ll create better safety and security for not just the inmates but for the staff as well,” Tommy said.
“It is a lot of money, but it’s worth keeping the women who are incarcerated safe, making sure that having working cameras can prevent types of sexual abuse. It can keep the facility accountable and makes investigations easier,” Christin said.
Meanwhile, from illegal drugs to overdoses in the facilities, keeping contraband out is another challenge the department is facing. In March 2023, the state announced that five women were arrested in “Operation Paper Shredder.” Officials believed inmates influenced their loved ones to smuggle illegal drugs into facilities through the mail.
Now, the department is looking at spending nearly $1 million on mail screening devices for each correctional facility.
“What the device does is screen for drugs, abnormalities in the paper or the weight of the paper or the weight of the envelope so then the same machine can do an x-ray and take a look at it. The staff will take precautions like they normally do and wear a mask and gloves, but we’ll be able to detect more of the illegal contraband that’s coming into the facilities,” said Tommy.
The DCR said it’ll eventually phase out paper mail and move to an all-digital mail system to better secure the facilities.
“Anyone who sends in illegal drugs in the mail we will come for you and we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” Johnson said.
DCR adds, as far as the security cameras, OCCC will be next on its list.