The Hawaii Department of Public Safety reports that the jail population has been reduced in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 inside the jails (including Hawaii Community Correctional Center in Hilo).  From March 2 to May 8 there has been an 823-person decrease in the jail population.

Hawaii Community Correctional Center in Hilo was designed for 206 inmates, had 395 inmates on March 2, and by May 8 was at 235, still 29 over the designed capacity.

The Department of Public Safety is also doing COVID-19 testing of inmates, but has only tested 3 inmates at HCC, and only 21 statewide.

The DPS says jail population reductions are due to up-front diversion efforts made by county police departments, PSD’s Intake Services Center Division and the State Judiciary.   The State Public Defender’s Office filed suit, asking that the inmate population be reduced to at least the designed capacity.    The public defenders have been meeting with county prosecutors, members of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court and the Supreme Court appointed Special Master, Judge Dan Foley to discuss inmate releases.  Judge Foley’s job is to help determine who and how many inmates should be released.

In an interview in mid April with New West Broadcasting’s Sherry Bracken, Hawaii County Prosecutor Mitch Roth said one of the main reasons to reduce the jail population was that if there were a COVID-19 outbreak, it could overwhelm the island’s (and the state’s) hospital capabilities.   All the state’s jails are at or over capacity, and physical distancing is not possible.

Roth said he and his team of prosecutors are objecting to many of the proposed releases, especially for any  offenders in jail for  sexual assault, murder, or other violent crimes.   He said there is a concern about those prisoners released committing crimes while out, and referenced at least one situation in the interview.   He said a burglar was released, committed another burglary, was arrested again and the judge released the perpetrator on his own recognizance.  Roth expressed frustration over the process.  Click here for that interview.

Currently there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the prisons or jails. The latest inmate counts per jail plus the Inmate Testing Report can be found online at the Department of Public Safety website.

http://dps.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/03/17/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-resources/