The Hawaii Department of Public Safety was a department within the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Hawaii. It was headquartered in the 919 Ala Moana Boulevard building in Honolulu, Hawaii.[3] At the time of its deactivation, the Department of Public Safety was made up of three divisions: Administration, Corrections, and Law Enforcement.
Pursuant to the Hawaii Bill HB 2171, the Department of Public Safety was deactivated on December 31, 2023 and its personnel, duties, and functions were transferred to two new separate departments: the Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement. Per the bill, the Hawaii State Legislature found that the goals and functions of corrections and law enforcement are different and distinct and separating the functions of corrections and law enforcement from the department of public safety into two separate departments would best accomplish the discrete goals and objectives of both functions.[4]
Divisions
Administration Division
The Administration Division provides support services that enable the corrections staff to fulfill their responsibilities. Some of these services include training and staff development, fiscal and personnel management, management of the operating budget and capital improvements program budget, procurement, and management information systems and research.[5]
The Corrections Division oversees four prisons. Three of the prisons are located on the island of Oahu and one on the island of Hawaii.[6] They include:
Kulani Correctional Facility in Hawaii County, on the island of Hawaii, which was closed in 2009 [9][10] and reopened in 2014
Private prisons
In 1995 the State of Hawaii began contracting with prisons outside of Hawaii to house prisoners from Hawaii.[11] The criteria for sending inmates to private prisons on the mainland include a minimum sentence of 24 months, a lack of pending criminal cases in Hawaii, and a lack of major health and medical issues. Attorney Daphne Barbee said that she had clients with cases pending who were sent to the mainland anyway.[12] According to Kevin Dayton of the Honolulu Advertiser, some inmates prefer to stay on the mainland for superior educational programs, drug treatment programs, and other programs that a prisoner would complete before he or she is considered for parole. Other prisoners, particularly those with young children and families, prefer to stay in Hawaii.[13]
The Mainland Section initially contracted with three facilities, one in Kentucky and two in Arizona, to house prisoners sentenced in Hawaii.[14]
The Kentucky prison, Otter Creek Correctional Center, was a designated women's prison run by Corrections Corporation of America. After numerous reports of prison staff sexually abusing inmates, Hawaii brought its prisoners home from the facility in August 2009. CCA closed the facility in 2013.[15]
Hawaii is one of six states in the United States that operates its jails at the state level. In most states jails are the responsibility of county and county-equivalent governments. The Hawaii Department of Public Safety is responsible for four jails: one on each of the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai.[6]
Law Enforcement Division
Narcotics Enforcement Division
The Narcotics Enforcement Division (NED) serves and protects the public by enforcing laws relating to controlled substances and regulated chemicals. They are responsible for the registration and control of the manufacture, distribution, prescription, and dispensing of controlled substances and precursor or essential chemicals within the state.[20]
Sheriff Division
Hawaii State Sheriff Division Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
The Sheriff Division carries out law enforcement services statewide. Its mission is to preserve the peace by protecting all persons and property within premises under the control of the judiciary and all state facilities; providing process services and execution of court documents; handling detained persons; and providing secure transportation for persons in custody. It also provides law enforcement services at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. They also serve various types of arrest warrants and other documents, and execute writs of possession. Deputy sheriffs conduct criminal and civil investigations on cases that occur within the jurisdiction of state entities. They also conduct records verification and background checks. Additionally, through its specialized canine unit, the division is responsible for detecting narcotics and explosives in agencies within the judiciary, the department's correctional facilities, and other state and county agencies that request those services.[21]
Sheriffs provide security services to the Maui Memorial Hospital, Hawaii State Hospital, Waimano Training School and Hospital, and Fort Ruger at the Department of Defense. They also provide executive protection services to the governor, lieutenant governor and, when requested, national and international dignitaries.[21]
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Hawaii Department of Public Safety, two officers have been killed.[22]
Rank
Name
Date of death
Cause of death
Age
Location
Deputy Sheriff
Daniel Browne-Sanchez
02-10-2007
Shot while trying to subdue an armed robbery suspect[23]
27
Osake Sushi Bar and Lounge
Officer
Thad Fumio Sagai
12-20-1983
Shot and killed after responding to a call of an insane and naked man harassing visitors; the man stole his service pistol and shot him
26
Diamond Head Crater
Controversies
In April 2016, Hawaii news media outlet Hawaii News Now reported that fifteen deputy sheriffs employed by the department, including some high-ranking officials within the division, had not yet received basic law enforcement training, despite some of them having been employed as sheriffs for more than two decades. According to the report, sources indicated that the lack of training "had led to some cases getting 'fouled up.'"[24][25]
On April 11, 2019, Hawaii News Now reported that Department of Public Safety administrator Joveta Marte Martinez had repeatedly lied about receiving degrees from Southern Oregon State College (now called Southern Oregon University) and Saint Joseph's College of Maine.[26]
^"Department of Public Safety". dps.hawaii.gov. State of Hawaii. May 4, 2020. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020. 919 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96814, (808) 587-1288
^"Hawaii Bill HB2127". State of Hawaii. (capitol.hawaii.gov). Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^"Waiawa Correctional Facility". dps.hawaii.gov. Hawaii Department of Public Safety. May 4, 2020. Archived from the original on February 16, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020. The Waiawa Correctional Facility (WCF) is a 334-bed, minimum-security prison for sentenced male inmates. WCF provides an environment that helps inmates successfully re-enter the community from prison. All inmates participate in education or substance abuse treatment programs.
^"Women's Community Correctional Center". dps.hawaii.gov. Hawaii Department of Public Safety. May 4, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2020. WCCC is the only women's prison in Hawaii. It also serves the needs of pre-trial and sentenced female offenders. The facility houses female offenders who are of maximum, medium and minimum custody levels.
^"Kulani Correctional Facility". dps.hawaii.gov. Hawaii Department of Public Safety. May 4, 2020. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020. Kulani Correctional Facility (KCF) is a 200-bed minimum security prison located on the slope of Mauna Loa, approximately 20 miles south east of Hilo, Big Island of Hawai'i.
This template pertains only to agencies that handle sentenced felons (with sentences over 1-2 years). In many states, pre-trial detainees, persons convicted of misdemeanors, and felons sentenced under state law to less than one year are held in county jails instead of state prisons.
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