In a letter to the Governor, Senate Minority Leader Kurt Fevella (District 19 – ‘Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe, ‘Ewa by Gentry, Iroquois Point, portion of ‘Ewa Villages) asks Governor Ige to consider issuing an emergency proclamation to address the adult correctional officers staff shortages at various State prisons, namely Hālawa, Waiawa, Kūlana Correctional Facilities and the Women’s Community Correctional Center.

“During my site visit on Monday, November 29, 2021, only 58 of the 91 correctional officers required for the morning shift at Hālawa Correctional Facility were at work, leaving 33

positions vacant or on leave,” writes Senate Minority Leader Fevella. “This situation presents a potentially dangerous situation for exhausted correctional officers who are not at the top of their game

when interacting with prison inmates, but also a probable risk to the general public on our roads and highways.”

Senate Minority Leader Fevella believes that funding from the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) or  other federal enactments and awards can be used to address the health and safety risks for overworked and understaffed correctional officers.

“An emergency declaration and the use of federal funds can immediately address vacancies through increased external recruitment, additional correctional recruitment classes, including day and evening classes, the immediate hiring of additional emergency hires with the option of conducting on the job training at each facility while emergency hirers await the completion of a nearly one-year permanent hiring process.”

A letter requesting an informational briefing on this matter was also sent to Senator Clarence Nishihara, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs.

Attached:

Letter to Governor David Ige

Letter to Senator Clarence Nishihara