Hawaii Inmate Search

Hawaii's state-run correctional facilities are designed to hold 2,491 inmates and can operate with a maximum capacity of 3,527. Currently, there are 2,802 inmates in these facilities, leading to an occupancy rate of about 79.4%. Hawaii has a unified correctional system that combines jails and correctional institutions, all overseen by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

This department is responsible for creating and maintaining inmate records for those under its supervision. In compliance with the Hawaii Uniform Information Practices Act, the department provides inmate search tools that allow citizens to access timely information about offenders' custody and parole status within its jurisdiction. They also allow friends and family to stay informed about their loved ones and communicate with them.

What is Hawaii Inmate Lookup?

Hawaii inmate lookup involves retrieving non-confidential records of individuals in state-run correctional facilities. Anyone can use the Hawaii Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) system, powered by VINE, or call (808)587-1356 to find information about inmates. This system gives updates on an inmate's custody and parole status 24 hours a day. These lookup services help increase transparency in Hawaii's correctional facilities. People can find key information, such as an inmate's name, the charges that led to their incarceration, and their current custody or parole status. The inmate lookup can also provide details about the facility where an inmate is housed. This helps family and friends plan visits. Regular visits offer essential emotional support, allowing families to stay connected with their loved ones in prison. Keeping in touch helps reduce anxiety for inmates and their families and strengthens their bonds during the incarceration period.

What Information Can You Find in a Hawaii Inmate Search?

Generally, an inmate search in Hawaii helps the public retrieve the following information:

• Inmate's full name
• Inmate's date of birth
• Custody status
• Location of Incarceration
• Inmate's ID number
• Gender
• Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation number

How Are Inmate Records In Hawaii Created and Stored?

In Hawaii, inmate records are created, stored, and maintained by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. All inmates sentenced to a term of imprisonment and remanded to the state's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation must have an inmate case record file. The process begins with gathering and reviewing all pretrial records and information. This includes warrants, arrest records, judgments, bail reports, and other documents related to the offenses. This information is collected from the jail administrator, where the inmate was held before trial. Once this information is compiled, Department officials create admission records. These records contain important details about the inmate, such as updated personal information, initial classifications, housing assignments, date of commitment, sentence computation, potential release date, and the charges for which they were sentenced. All of this information is then organized into the inmate's institutional file, which is stored in the case record room of their correctional facility. The file is updated regularly as the inmate progresses through the correctional system. Additionally, the Department of Corrections maintains the SAVIN system, which allows electronic access to non-confidential inmate records. Interested individuals can use this system to view an inmate's personal information, custody status, and the facility where they are incarcerated.

What Does Hawaii's Prison System Look Like?

Hawaii's state prison system includes four correctional facilities managed by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. These facilities provide custody services, care, and various programs to help inmates reintegrate into society after their release. They are distributed evenly across the state.

The prison system is designed to house 2,491 inmates, with a maximum capacity of 3,527. Currently, there are 2,802 inmates in these facilities, resulting in an occupancy rate of about 79.4%. The facilities are categorized into three security levels: minimum, medium, and maximum security.

Minimum-security prisons in Hawaii are meant for inmates who pose little to no security risk. Medium-security prisons accommodate inmates who have shown a willingness to follow the rules but still present some risk. In contrast, maximum-security facilities are for inmates who require constant supervision due to their potential threat to safety.

Types of Correctional Facilities In Hawaii

The state of Hawaii has 4 state prisons. Each houses a different demographic and has specific labels of custody. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation oversees each facility and the reentry programs and services. Hawaii also has four jails, also known as community corrections centers, serving each of the counties in the state. These facilities house pretrial detainees and convicted offenders serving sentences of one year or less, and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation also manages them. The state's Office of Youth Services oversees youth detention in the commonwealth. It also provides balanced and comprehensive services for at-risk youth to prevent delinquency, reduce recidivism, and maximize opportunities for youth to become productive, responsible citizens through community-based and family-focused treatment interventions. Hawaii is also home to one stand-alone federal prison in Honolulu.

Hawaii State Prisons

The state of Hawaii has four state prisons. Each serves a different demographic and has various custody levels. Each of these facilities also offers reentry programs and substance abuse treatment. Below is the list of all prison facilities in Hawaii:

• Halawa Correctional Facility
• Waiawa Correctional Facility
• Kulani Correctional Facility
• Women Community Correctional Center

Hawaii County Jail

Hawaii has four county jails, and these jails are operated and managed by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. These jails house pretrial detainees and convicted offenders serving sentences of one year or less. They are also responsible for the delivery of furlough programs to assist long-term sentenced inmates with their transitional return to the community. Below is the list of all jail facilities in Hawaii:

• Hawaii Community Correctional Center
• Kauai Community Correctional Center
• Maui Community Correctional Center
• Oahu Community Correctional Center

Hawaii Juvenile Detention Centers

The Office of Youth Services is in charge of juvenile corrections and partners with the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF). This facility works with the courts to hold youths aged 12 to 21 who have been charged with a crime and are not eligible for community-based incarceration. HYCF provides care and custody, along with programs to help youths prepare to return to their communities. One important program is the Aftercare/Reentry Program, which helps youths transition out of HYCF and back to their families and communities.

Hawaii Community Correctional Facilities

The Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is responsible for overseeing the state's community correctional facilities, which play a vital role in the criminal justice system. These facilities serve a diverse population, including pre-trial misdemeanants, pre-trial felons, sentenced misdemeanants, sentenced felons, individuals on probation, and those who have violated their parole conditions. In addition to housing these individuals, the community correctional facilities focus on rehabilitation and reintegration into society. They offer a range of services designed to support offenders in successfully transitioning back to their communities. This includes access to transitional community residential programs, which provide structured living environments, counseling, job readiness training, and support with securing employment and housing. These initiatives aim to reduce recidivism and promote positive outcomes for individuals re-entering society.

Why are People Incarcerated in Hawaii?

In Hawaii, people can be incarcerated for different types of crimes. These crimes are grouped into four main categories: person offenses, sex offenses, drug offenses, and property offenses. Person and sex offenses are usually seen as violent crimes, while drug and property offenses are generally considered non-violent. Person offenses in Hawaii include serious crimes like murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, homicide, manslaughter, and attempted murder. Sex offenses involve crimes such as rape, sexual assault, assault with the intent to commit rape, and child abuse.

Property offenses that may lead to incarceration include arson, unarmed burglary (like breaking-and-entering), theft (which includes shoplifting and larceny), fraud, embezzlement, possession of burglary tools, destruction of property, and receiving stolen goods. Drug offenses typically involve illegal possession, manufacture, distribution, or use of controlled substances as defined by state law.

Anyone interested in conducting an inmate search to find out why a person is being incarcerated in a Hawaii correctional facility can look up the individual using the SAVIN system, which allows electronic access to non-confidential inmate records.

Hawaii's Incarceration Rate and Statistics

As of December 2022, the state of Hawaii's incarceration rate stood at 174 per 100,000 people, with about 3,059 inmates under the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The table below shows Hawaii's year-end incarceration rate over a 7-year period.

Life After Incarceration in Hawaii?

Hawaii's Department of Public Safety is focused on reducing recidivism in the state. To help achieve this goal, the Department has created the Offender Reentry Office. This office provides essential transitional services, including training, planning, risk assessment, victim support, and restitution collection. The reentry process marks the transition of an offender from prison or jail back to the community. It begins when the individual enters the criminal justice system and continues until they are fully reintegrated into society. This process aims to address the specific needs of offenders both before and after their release. It also includes strategies to ensure these needs are met throughout the reentry journey. By adopting effective reentry strategies, Hawaii helps returning offenders secure stable employment, access appropriate housing, support their families and become positive contributors to society. However, despite these efforts, Hawaii still faces a recidivism rate of over 50%.

How Does Parole Work in Hawaii?

The Hawaii parole board reviews each inmate's progress, and when they feel a prisoner is rehabilitated and not a danger to society, they may release them early before finishing their sentence. When this happens, the inmate is given a list of stipulations they must comply with. If the inmate does not check in regularly with their parole officer or violates any of the other rules, they will return to prison to finish out their sentences. As of December 2022, Hawaii's parole population stood at 1,240.

Hawaii Parole Population in 2022

How Does Someone Get Probation in Hawaii?

Probation is a supervisory program where a Hawaii judge can order probation instead of prison. This privilege is most often given to first-time or low-risk offenders. Again, these individuals do have to comply with a list of court-ordered rules. If they fail to meet with the probation officer or complete any of the other terms of their probation, it will be revoked, and they will immediately go to prison. About 15,080 individuals were on probation in Hawaii as of year-end 2022.

Hawaii Probation Population in 2022