Search Hawaii Public Records

How Are Inmate Records in Hawaii Created and Stored?

Hawaii inmate records are created by law enforcement and correctional staff. The first record to be created is a RAP sheet when the person is arrested. This initial document includes the name, address, physical description, and crime details of the offender. After that everything else that occurs in the inmate’s life, such as moving to a new facility or attending a trial is entered into the file. Inmate records are stored online in a central database, making it easy for someone to conduct an inmate search.

What Does Hawaii’s Prison System Look Like?

The Hawaii prison system is very simple, with only four state prisons and four jails. The state is also home to one federal prison and one juvenile detention center. The entire system is managed and overseen by The State of Hawaii Department of Public Safety, Corrections Division. The Corrections Division is headed up by Jodie Maesaka-Hirata, the Deputy Director for Corrections. The prison system in Hawaii consists of:

The jail population includes both men and women prisoners awaiting hearings or a trial.

Types of Jails and Prisons in Hawaii

Hawaii has a simple system of corrections within the state. They have only four state prisons; three are located on Oahu and the other one on the Big Island of Hawaii. Then they have four jails with one on each major island. Additionally, they also have one federal prison and one juvenile detention center. Each type of facility has a specific purpose and population. The jails house inmates who are awaiting trial or a hearing. The prisons hold offenders who have committed felonies and were sentenced to years in prison. The federal prison is for inmates who broke federal laws, and the juvenile detention center holds youth offenders, under the age of 18. Due to overcrowding, Hawaii has sent 1,400 of its prisoners to a facility in Arizona whom they contract with for services.

How Many People are Locked up in Hawaii?

Hawaii’s prison system holds 5,602 residents in various kinds of correctional facilities, from which 4,031 residents are held in state prisons, 166 in federal prisons.

Hawaii State Prisons

Hawaii has four state prisons that house offenders from all over the state. Three are located on the island of Oahu and but the Kulani Correctional Facility is located on the Big Island of Hawaii. The state prison system consists of:

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

Hawaii does not keep its inmate records online. Therefore, it is impossible to look up a Hawaii inmate from their website. However the Corrections Division website does offer phone number and contact details for the intake office.

Hawaii Federal Prisons

There is only one federal prison in Hawaii named Honolulu FDC. This federal prison holds 459 inmates (both male and female offenders). It is an administrative security federal detention center. The web page devoted to this facility has information on how to contact an inmate through the mail or by phone, send them gifts, visit them and other resources for family and friends. They have strict visitation rules, so be sure to review them all carefully before showing up.

Hawaii County Jails

Hawaii has a total of four jails in the state. These facilities hold inmates while they await sentencing or a trial. Some of the jails offer substance abuse treatment programs, education, religious counseling, cultural arts, and work furlough programs. There is one jail per major island in Hawaii. The list includes:

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

Each facility holds a small number of inmates for short-term stays.

Hawaii Juvenile Detention Centers

The state of Hawaii has one juvenile detention center for the state called The Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF). They call this facility the “last resort,” when all other community programs have been exhausted and fail. This facility is managed and operated by the State of Hawaii Department of Human Services. Their main goals are education, rehabilitation, and positive reentry back into society for youth offenders.

Why are People Incarcerated in Hawaii?

There are only about 6,900 people in jail and prison in the state of Hawaii. Fifty-five hundred inmates reside in jail or state prison. Another 1,200 are in federal prison, and only about 50 are in juvenile detention. The most popular reason that inmates are sent to Hawaii prison is larceny-theft, with burglary and motor vehicle theft close behind. Violent criminals make up a small percentage of the offenders in prison in Hawaii. For example, in 2016, Hawaii saw only 35 murders, 601 rapes, and 1,831 aggravated assaults.

Hawaii’s Incarceration Rate and Statistics

Hawaii’s incarceration rate for year-end 2016 under state prison or local jail jurisdiction per 100,000 population was 254, which is lower than an average incarceration rate by 44%. The number of Hawaii prisoners at the year-end of 2016 was 5,602, from which 12% were female prisoners, whereas the number of male prisoners was 4,934 in 2016.

Where Do Hawaii Inmates Go When They are Released?

Most inmates released from prison in Hawaii will go back to family or friends. Although Hawaii does not have a designated facility to help with reentry, the prisons and jails both have programs designed to reduce recidivism. According to the Corrections Division: “CI is a vocational rehabilitation program in Hawaii’s correctional facilities that provide real-world work experience to inmates, teaching them transferable job skills and a positive work ethic to help them prepare for post-release, reentry, and employment in the community. CI’s ultimate goal is to return an economically self-sufficient individual to the community who will be able to immediately join the workforce and become a productive, law-abiding member of society.”

How Does Parole Work in Hawaii?

Parole works when an inmate is released from prison early into a supervisory program. The inmate must convince the parole board that they are not a danger to society. They must also comply with strict rules, including checking in regularly with a parole officer. The State of Hawaii Department of Public Safety has a special division called the Intake Services Center Division to oversee the supervision of inmates on parole and probation.

Parole Population

How Does Someone Get Probation in Hawaii?

Probation is an alternative to prison. During the sentencing phase of a trial, the judge may order probation instead of prison. Probation means the offender can remain free in society but must comply with all the rules of the court, including checking in regularly with a probation officer. If the offender violates any of these rules, they will immediately go to prison. Probation is usually ordered for a specific number of months or years and only available to first-time offenders or non-violent criminals.

Probation Statistics