Corrections Chief Advocates for Diverting Mentally Ill Offenders from Incarceration

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Officials within the prison system and local lawmakers assert that significant taxpayer funds are being used to imprison individuals who require mental health treatment. They cite Maui’s approach as a successful model for reducing jail populations while ensuring public safety.

The Maui Community Correctional Center underwent a transformation following a significant riot in 2019, leading to a decrease in inmate numbers this summer. The Maui Nui Partners in Healing program has played a crucial role in diverting individuals with mental illness from incarceration to treatment instead.

Corrections and Rehabilitation Director Tommy Johnson pointed out that implementing similar strategies as those used in Maui across the state could lead to a decrease in jail populations and substantial cost savings for taxpayers. He noted that if the jail population could be reduced by even 200 individuals, those savings could be immense.

However, efforts to replicate this success on Oahu are hindered by limitations in the diversion program’s acceptance criteria, according to Johnson, who urged for broader eligibility criteria to include more offenders. Lawmakers have emphasized that they have allocated resources to create a supportive system, now requiring focused action to bring all stakeholders together.