NCJ Number
53029
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1978) Pages: 3-12
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
PROBLEMS IN IMPLEMENTING HAWAII'S CORRECTIONAL MASTER PLAN, PARTICULARLY THOSE STEMMING FROM UNDERESTIMATES OF PRISON POPULATIONS AND OVERESTIMATES OF DEVELOPMENTS IN COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS, ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
IN 1970, A GROUP OF PLANNERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS DESIGNED A NEW CORRECTIONS SYSTEM FOR HAWAII. THE STATE LEGISLATURE APPROVED THE PLAN IN 1973 AND SET ASIDE $30 MILLION TO BUILD NEW FACILITIES ON EACH OF HAWAII'S FOUR MAJOR ISLANDS. PART ($10 MILLION) OF THE CONSTRUCTION MONEY CAME FROM LEAA-THE SINGLE LARGEST CONSTRUCTION GRANT EVER MADE BY THE AGENCY. THE PHYSICAL PLANT OF THE NEW CORRECTIONS SYSTEM IS NEARLY COMPLETE, BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE SYSTEM MAY BE OUTMODED BEFORE IT IS EVEN FULLY OPERATIONAL. THE MASTER PLAN IS THE EMBODIMENT OF THE MEDICAL MODEL OF CORRECTIONS. IT INTRODUCED A SYSTEM BASED ON REHABILITATION JUST AS THE PUBLIC AND POLITICIANS WERE DEMANDING PUNISHMENT. THE SYSTEM ALSO RELIED ON STATISTICAL PROJECTIONS THAT INDICATED THE NUMBER OF PRISONERS WOULD DECLINE. INSTEAD, THE NUMBER HAS DOUBLED. BUT THE PLAN'S MAJOR MISCALCULATION INVOLVED THE ASSUMPTION THAT AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS FOR OFFENDERS COULD BE ESTABLISHED. THE COMMUNITY HAS FOUGHT SUCH PROGRAMS AT EVERY TURN. CONCERN ABOUT REAL ESTATE VALUES AND A SUDDEN SURGE IN VIOLENT CRIME HAVE COMBINED TO MAKE CITIZENS WARY OF ACCEPTING CORRECTIONS FACILITIES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. PLANNERS AND OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO ADJUST TO THE NEW REALITIES, BUT THE ADJUSTMENT IS DIFFICULT. THEIR PROBLEMS TESTIFY TO THE EXTREME DIFFCULTY OF CORRECTIONS PLANNING AND TO THE FACT THAT THE SIZE AND NATURE OF ANY CORRECTIONS SYSTEM IS SUBJECT TO MANY FORCES BEYOND THE CONTROL OF CORRECTIONS ADMINSTRATORS. DETAILS OF THE WORK THAT LED TO HAWAII'S MASTER PLAN, THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF ALL ASPECTS OF CORRECTIONS IN HAWAII, AND HAWAIIAN CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS' VIEWS OF THEIR SYSTEM, PROGRAMS, AND PROBLEMS ARE PROVIDED. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUREAUCRATIC PROBLEMS OF INTEREST TO OTHER STATES CONTEMPLATING OVERHAULS OF THEIR CORRECTIONS SYSTEMS. (LKM)