EDITORIAL
State should rethink inmates on Mainland

While the state Department of Public Safety says Hawai'i's female inmates housed at the Brush Correctional Facility in Colorado are safe and secure, the state of Wyoming clearly feels otherwise about its inmates at the troubled prison. Wyoming officials reported they will remove their inmates from Brush and send them to other facilities within 45 days.

However, 21 women lawmakers in Hawai'i are asking the governor to step up monitoring of the prison and to look for other places to house the prisoners. At least one of the lawmakers, Rep. Cynthia Thielen, believes the inmates should be moved immediately.

Although the state Department of Public Safety said it has no immediate plans to move the prisoners, it is studying other options it may pursue when the contract with the Brush facility ends July 31.

The state also has expanded its regular quarterly monitoring trip to Brush, scheduled for May, from two days to four, and has increased the number of staff making the trip.

Whatever the outcome of this monitoring visit, the contract with Brush should not be renewed. Problems at the prison include criminal charges filed against staff members and the former warden in connection with sexual misconduct allegations, and revelations that the prison allowed five convicted felons to work there because their background checks had not been completed.

If state officials have any concerns as a result of the monitoring trip, they should make plans to move the prisoners to a safer facility as soon as possible.

Prisoners lose many rights when they are incarcerated. But they should not have their safety compromised. It not only violates the rules of a civilized society, it also could prove to be a liability for the state and for taxpayers.

Hawai'i should follow Wyoming's example.