Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (formerly Department of Public Safety)

The Human Rights Defense Center is suing the Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for censorship. The center says the department has not allowed its educational publications, books and informational brochures to be delivered to inmates.

As the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation continues to consider how to replace the overcrowded and deteriorated OCCC, the Correctional System Oversight Commission is considering alternatives to a new, bigger jail.

The Honolulu Federal Detention Center could be back on the table to replace the deteriorating and overpopulated Oʻahu Community Correctional Center. HPR’s Ashley Mizuo reports that Gov. Josh Green has asked the Trump administration to consider allowing the state to acquire the underutilized federal prison.

Hawaiʻi lawmakers passed the state budget Wednesday that includes $30 million to complete the planning for a new jail to replace the deteriorating and overpopulated Oʻahu Community Correctional Center.

A former guard has pleaded guilty to mailing illegal aerial fireworks to Hawaiʻi's largest jail in 2022. Gilchrist Fernandez's guilty plea comes as Hawaiʻi authorities grapple with challenges in enforcing existing laws after a deadly New Year's fireworks blast at a Honolulu home. The ex-guard faces up to three months imprisonment at sentencing scheduled for June.

Gov. Josh Green’s new budget requests $30 million to plan the new jail to replace the dilapidated Oʻahu Community Correctional Center. The Department of Corrections began working on plans for the new jail over seven years ago.

Following a state shortage of correctional officers, the Department of Corrections will graduate 18 officers on Friday. A campaign to fill the 400 vacancies in the department faces was released this month.

More than 100 million gallons of fuel have been drained from the Navy Red Hill underground fuel facility, but residual fumes could still pose a risk to workers and neighboring communities. Kathleen Ho, the deputy environmental director for the state Department of Health, said health officials raised those concerns with the Navy.

Local artists and inmates unveiled life-size murals at Hawaiʻi's only women's prison, located in Windward Oʻahu. One mural featuring at least 20 species of marine life is roughly 18 feet tall and 50 feet wide. The project hopes to promote tranquility and liveliness. HPR's Cassie Ordonio reports.

Several inmates at the Halawa Correctional Facility on Oʻahu received their associate degrees in May through a program offered by Chaminade University. Among them was Big Island native Kelson Akeo.