Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 5, 1 May 2014 — Easing the transition from prison to community [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Easing the transition from prison to community

Aloha mai kākou e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau a puni ke ao māla-

# % malama.

How many Hawaiian families do you know who have NOT been impacted by incarceration? I would guess that every Hawaiian has been affected in some way by the adverse effects of the Hawai'i prison system. As the findings of our recent OHA report The Disparate Treatment ofNative Hawaiians in the Criminal Justice System indicate, 41 percent of our State's prison and jail population are

Native Hawaiian. But what happens when Hawaiians who are done serving their sentence return to their 'ohana? There are many who would rather not notice or be reminded that formerly incarcerated Hawaiians are our neighbors, family members, relatives and co-workers. However, as we march forth as a Hawaiian nation - steadfast in our values and committed to our kuleana - we must remember to include those who have transgressed. We must help rebuild their lives; we cannot afford to tum our backs. Over the years I have become familiar with a model community-based re-entry program for women transitioning from prison to the community. The majority of women who reside at TJ Mahoney & Associates, Ka Hale Ho'āla Hou No Nā Wāhine (The Home of Reawakening for Women) are Hawaiian. The program requires them to become employed or be looking for a job. They must also participate in life-skills classes and community activities and may choose to further their education. They build a solid foundation, save money and practice living as

productive and contributing community members, all the while building on their strengths and resiliency. They

do this in an environment that is culturally sensitive, supportive and encouraging, allowing for mistakes and in the process, learning to correct their mistakes and move on. Over time, these women are able to reconnect with their families and communities with confidence. They nurture a newfound determination to stay on track and out of the criminal justice system. This process serves to disrupt the devastating intergenerational cycle of

trauma, substance use, addiction and incarceration. One indicator of the program's success is that 82 percent of women completing the program stay out of prison beyond two years, a nationally recognized benchmark for non-recidi-vism. The majority of women at Ka Hale Ho'āla Hou No Nā Wāhine are mothers. If their problems are left unaddressed, their children become the next generation of inmates. A child with an incarcerated parent is 85 percent more likely to end up with criminal justice involvement. One child housed at the Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility costs taxpayers $199,000 for one year. We cannot continue to throw our people away. We cannot continue to fund the destruction of the fabric of our eommunities. We need effective and long-term solutions. We need to take a stand to support programs like Ka Hale Ho'āla Hou No Nā Wāhine that enhanee the odds for Hawaiians to become successful when they return to their families and eommunities. 17/48 ■

Haunani Apnlinna, MSW

TrustEE, At-largE