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quote:
Originally posted by HereOnThePrimalEdge
Chunkster,
Kulani was a minimum security prison, I was told it didn't even have a fence around it. My understanding is that it's more like a camp so would require major upgrades to keep the prisoners from just walking away. Because right now that's possible.
opihkao, you mentioned sex offenders in your post. Do you know who the majority of inmates at Kulani were? Sex offenders. With no fence to keep them in. County priorities.
Kulani used the isolation as their "fence." They also had one of the more successful programs for keeping sex offenders from reoffending when they got out. That was one of the reasons it made so little sense to close it when Lingle did, the program was never replaced, so now sex offenders serve their time with little or no treatment.
The percentage of cases that go to trial and the conviction rate is jointly the responsibility of the police and the prosecutor's office. The revolving door of light sentences is the fault of our judges, who at times lack any common sense.
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... successful programs for keeping sex offenders from reoffending when they got out. That was one of the reasons it made so little sense to close it when Lingle did
Kulani was closed because it was inefficiently operated. There were either too many guards or too few inmates:
The Kulani Correctional Facility Currently employs 76 workers and houses 123 male inmates.
http://mauinow.com/2009/07/24/kulani-cor...-to-close/
If Kulani used the isolation as their "fence" what why did they need 76 guards (with frequent overtime pay) to watch 123 inmates? The people who complained the loudest when the facility closed were the guards. Even luxury resorts in Kona don't have that high a worker to guest ratio.
BTW, Kulani has reopened.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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I didn't mean to imply that Kulani as currently or previously operated should be the model for an enlarged prison, although the sex offender program would have merit. What I should have said was that Kulani is a location where a medium to high security facility could be built without having to acquire new real estate or be near residential areas. Sorry for the lack of clarity. Even so, the politicians will say "no money," and some Big Island residents will say "not on our island." Hard to get anything done in a political environment where everything is invested in maintaining the status quo.
Another way to free up prison space would be to stop sending people up for marijuana offenses of any level. The same judges and prosecutors who sign off on questionable plea bargains for violent crimes are still sending folks to prison for 10 years or more for growing pakalolo. Makes no sense.
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"The same judges and prosecutors who sign off on questionable plea bargains for violent crimes are still sending folks to prison for 10 years or more for growing pakalolo. "
I would hope you understand that plea bargains typically function as a measure where the prosecution may lack a strong enough case to stand up to trial and meet the burden of proof, risking a total loss of the case and the defendent getting off scott-free, in the eyes of the prosecution. The burden of proof exists in a civilized society for a reason. Or what part of locking up innocents without a fair trial do you like? Nobody is claiming the judicial system functions perfectly, hardly. Doesn't hurt to understand some of the basics before jumping to too many rash conclusions.
Maybe someone like shockwave rider will accuse me of being a friend to rapists or some such nonsense for saying as much.
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I feel that misdemeanors should be fined as "public service" duty, picking up roadside garbage, park clean ups, etc. until they have three of a kind, then jail time. Keep the jails for felony counts and have a judicial system with some kahones to actually enforce the law without the " go easy on him/her, they're so and so's relative. The law is the law, deal with it. It's called consequences for a reason. A person with 3 DUI's, or 3 breaking and entering with force, all resulting in probation each time does not help the individual, or the community.
Community begins with Aloha
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" go easy on him/her, they're so and so's relative.
Totally agree there, Tink. Nepotism has absolutely no place whatsoever in the system.
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PM2, I'm not saying that plea bargains are never useful. Sometimes that's the best that can be had. My opinion is that high profile violent crimes in this jurisdiction seem to end up in plea bargains more than they should. This is often the result of sloppy work on the part of police and/or prosecutors. The current prosecutor, Mitch Roth, promised before he was elected to do something about this, even if it meant publicly embarrassing the parties responsible for messing up what should be slam dunk cases. I witnessed him make this statement at a public meeting. So far we have not seen this.
I really want to know more about the case where the home invasion rapist got three years served awaiting trial when there was DNA evidence. How do you mess a case like that up? Yes, the victim gave a shaky ID, but we might safely assume that she suffered from PTSD from day one. The defense attorney had a lot to say in the press about his side of the case, but the prosecutors were lacking an explanation for their end of it.
And yes, Tink, there is nepotism on top of all the other issues.
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That's a reasonable post, Chunkster. I may have a few moderate contentions, but agree with much of it. Yes, I would need some more info on that particular case before making further judgement, too.
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I'd rather see folk given jobs and opportunities than just shuttled off to prison (on my dime mind you).
If people have a job and can support themselves then theres no need for the crime. It should be much cheaper in the long run than putting them all in jail!
Alternatively we could go with the 'australia' method and just dump em on kahoolawe and let them go all lord of the flies.
Either way its not really up to me...I just hate to think about all my taxes going to feed, clothe, and roof criminals.
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Aloha Tink, very well stated. Could not agree more.
FYI - Here are some statistics (only through 2013; 2014-today should be available somewhere) in this article dated 8/2/15:
(*Snipped - More at link)
http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/news/loca...lent-crime
Violent crimes on the Big Island reached a record high in 2013.
That’s according to the report “Crime in Hawaii 2013: A Review of Uniform Crime Reports,” recently released by the state Attorney General’s Research and Statistics Branch. Those are the latest official crime stats available.
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program tracks seven offenses: murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault (plus attempts at those crimes), which are violent crimes; and burglary, theft and auto theft, which are property crimes.
Of the 5,833 offenses reported to on the Big Island that year, 5,286, or 90.6 percent, were property crimes. There were 547 violent crimes reported, accounting for 9.4 percent of reports.
According to the report, Hawaii County’s violent crime rate in 2013 reached its highest point on record since statewide data collection of crime statistics began in 1975. The violent crime rate, at 287 reports per 100,000 population, was slightly higher than the prior record of 286 in 2005 and well above the 227 reports per 100,000 population rate in 2012.
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