We need to look at the entire criminal justice ecosystem to better understand the importance of having a jail that is up to date, has space for rehabilitative programs and the technology and staffing needed for security. Foremost, a jail provides protection to the community and safety for victims of crime.
Unlike a prison, the Oahu Community Correctional Center is a temporary holding facility for those who have been arrested for a crime and awaiting a trial to determine their guilt or innocence. Others are held for parole and probation violations or awaiting reentry to the community.
In some cases, the courts allow for bail for pretrial detainees, and some individuals may post bail and return to the community to await trial. The average duration of stay in OCCC is three weeks, and in some cases up to a year.
Currently, OCCC has an average daily headcount of 925. The facility is currently designed to house only 628 and has an operational capacity of 954. This means some detainees and inmates are sleeping on mattresses on the floor because the OCCC population is approximately 152% over its current design capacity. The jail has consistently operated at this level and higher for more than a decade, placing a severe strain on the facility’s infrastructure…