Sex-offender escapes concern Pearl City residents
By James Gonser
Advertiser Central Bureau
PEARL CITY — The news that two teenage patients from the juvenile sex-offender treatment center in Pearl City escaped during a field trip to Honolulu has renewed neighbors' resolve to get the facility moved as soon as possible.
Residents angrily opposed the facility before it opened in December, saying it is inappropriate to house sex offenders just a half-mile from Momilani Elementary and Pearl City High. Neighbors feared offenders who escaped could be a threat to children.
Despite assurances last week that no threat was posed to students in the area and that communication would be improved between the center's operator, Benchmark Behavioral Systems, and Pearl City schools and residents, the center's neighbors were adamant.
"We want it out of the area that is so close to schools," said Paul Suyama, chairman of a Pearl City Community Association task force set up to monitor the center. "People don't realize if someone escapes from the facility, there is nothing in the area except the schools."
At a public meeting last week, James Bailey, Benchmark's program director, told residents that the two boys, 15 and 16, ran away while on an outing to Ala Moana Center three months ago.
It was the only time patients from the center escaped, Bailey said.
Although police were notified, the schools were not because it was a Sunday, and the escape was not in the immediate area, Bailey said.
One boy was returned to the center and the second to another juvenile facility.
"We asked (Benchmark) to let us know of any escapes, regardless of if it is somewhere else," said Suyama.
The center, on the Waimano Training School and Hospital grounds, treats up to 10 boys ages 12 to 17 who are not classified as sexual predators or violent sexual offenders, but have had sexual relations with family members, state officials said.
It is the only treatment center of its kind in the state and is locked and monitored around the clock.
State Department of Health officials said the center was needed to meet a deadline set by the 1994 Felix consent decree, a U.S. District Court order that requires the state to improve mental-health services for students with special needs.
Suyama said the goal now is to make sure the facility moves.
"The object of forming the task force was to move the facility," Suyama said. "People think we are saying, 'Not in my neighborhood,' but we are saying not at that site."
Gov. Ben Cayetano told residents earlier this year that the center could be moved if a suitable location was found and money for the move was allocated by the Legislature. However, a bill to provide $6.5 million to move the facility failed during the last legislative session.
The governor has asked the health department to request proposals early next year from operators willing to run the program at a different facility, said Anita Swanson, deputy director for behavioral health.
The problem is that the state has appropriated money to pay an operator, but no money to build or furnish a new facility, Swanson said at the public meeting.
"We are going to release the Request for Proposals, and the requirements will be that someone has the capacity and the track record of a program like Benchmark," Swanson said. "If no one responds to the Request for Proposals, and the Legislature does not fund a new facility, the state is very committed to meeting the needs of the children, and (the Pearl City) facility and that program are meeting the needs of those children."
During a search for a new site earlier this year, a private consultant recommended three possible sites: Kahi Mohala, Wahiawa near Kemo'o Farm and Kalaeloa.
The state House Health Committee was unable to reach consensus and deferred a resolution that recommended moving the center to the Kahi Mohala psychiatric hospital in 'Ewa. The program remained in Pearl City.
If the Pearl City facility cannot be used, Benchmark may not be able to bid on the contract, Bailey said. Its contract expires in June.
"The state does want us to continue treatment; they are very happy with what we have done and we have a very good track record, but without a facility, what can we do?" Bailey said. "We are helping the Hawai'i kids. We are doing a good thing here."
No other groups in Hawai'i have Benchmark's experience, Bailey said, and a group or hospital cannot simply "throw together some sex offender specialists," but must have a proven program to help these children.
Benchmark gets good marks from officials in Utah, where it has a similar operation.
Since 1986, Benchmark has been licensed to operate a psychiatric hospital for 68 patients in Woods Cross, Utah, and Hawai'i juvenile sex offenders had been sent to that facility.
According to records in Utah, Benchmark received a complaint in 1998 alleging the hospital did not screen clients before admitting them and lacked proper security measures. A complaint in 1999 alleged the hospital lacked adequate supervision of patients and had improper security measures.
Neither complaint could be substantiated, said Joel Hoffman, health program manager with the bureau of licensing for the Utah health department.
Benchmark has done a good job in Hawai'i so far, Swanson said. If another operator and site is not found, its contract can be extended for a year at Pearl City.
"Benchmark has exceeded our expectations." Swanson said. "They are dealing with a very difficult population in a new program."
