Prison shake-up threatened

By Ronna Bolante
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Reacting angrily to a series of recent prison breakouts, Gov. Ben Cayetano said he will make personnel changes in prison management if the situation doesn't improve.

"I'm very disturbed. I'm embarrassed," Cayetano said. "I'm very upset that management in our prisons seems to be very, very lax."

Cayetano refused to say if Ted Sakai's job as state director of public safety was in jeopardy. Sakai could not be reached for comment.

"As far as I'm concerned, if we don't get better, then we're going to make some changes," Cayetano said. "We'll have to put some people in place that will do the job. I think we owe that to the public."

On Wednesday, two inmates escaped from O'ahu Community Correctional Center after another prisoner got into a control station to unlock cell doors. The two escapees were captured within hours.

"It's fortunate for all of us that no one was harmed or injured in any way," Cayetano said.

The governor also pointed to the Thursday car crash of an escapee from the Laumaka Work Furlough Center. The escapee was captured after the car he was driving crashed in front of Honolulu Police Department headquarters.

"The regulations that we have in place — the rules and procedures — are sound as far as I know," Cayetano said. "What has not been sound is the way that they have been executed. And if sergeants don't execute, or wardens don't execute, or a director doesn't execute, then maybe some changes need to be made."