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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, January 21, 2003

More money sought for prisons

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

The Department of Public Safety wants $2.8 million more in the 2003-04 fiscal budget to pay for rising inmate healthcare costs.

Healthcare, security needs cited

The Department of Public Safety says it must have $147.8 million in 2003-04, a 2 percent increase. Among the needs cited:

  • $2.8 million to pay for rising inmate healthcare costs
  • $337,629 to hire seven parole officers in the Hawai'i Paroling Authority
  • $213,676 for four deputy sheriffs to improve security at state buildings
  • $337,629 for five deputy sheriffs to work at the 3rd Circuit Court on the Big Island.
  • $2.5 million to plan a 1,200-bed detention center to replace O'ahu Community Correctional Center.
Department officials yesterday told the House Finance Committee they are submitting a $147.8 million general fund budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, an increase of 2 percent over the current budget.

It is one of the few departments so far this year to come before the Legislature asking for more money.

Gov. Linda Lingle has asked that all state agencies trim nonessential costs by 5 percent from their budgets, but James Propotnik, appointed interim public safety director last week, said the agency is asking that it be spared from cuts because of its already tight situation.

The in-state prison population was 3,722 on Dec. 31 — about 143 fewer inmates than a year earlier, but still above the official capacity of 3,487, Propotnik said.

"Correctional healthcare is in crisis because of the increased population, rising health costs, the high incidence of contagious diseases and mental illness among the offender population, and the difficulty of recruiting health professionals to work in the correctional system," he said.

The department also is seeking $337,629 to hire seven parole officers, because current officers "are unable to do their job effectively because of their overwhelming caseloads," Propotnik said. In an effort to ease overcrowding, officers screened 482 inmates for early parole and eventually paroled 165.

Also needed are nine new deputy sheriff positions. Four, at a cost of $213,676, would go to the Protective Services Division to beef up security in state buildings. Five deputy sheriffs, costing $337,629, would go to the 3rd Circuit Court on the Big Island, where three circuit courts, two family courts and seven district courts are served by a staff of 11, Propotnik said.

He also said $2.5 million is needed to plan a 1,200-bed detention center to replace the O'ahu Community Correctional Center.

Placing the facility in Halawa Valley, near the Halawa Correctional Facility, remains an option, he said, and when he was pressed by Finance Chairman Dwight Takamine, D-1st (N. Kohala, S. Kohala, Hama-kua, N. Hilo, S. Hilo), Propotnik acknowledged it was the preferred site.

Former Gov. Ben Cayetano had wanted to negotiate a deal for a private contractor to build and run the prison, but talks broke down before he left office and Lingle has been mum about where or what she wants in the new facility. She is expected to address prisons in her State of the State speech today.

Regardless of where the new prison is built, the administration is committed to bringing home 1,300 inmates housed at Mainland institutions, Propotnik said.

"That's costing the state around $25 million," he said. "That money would be better spent here" and allow the inmates to be near their families.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.