Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 5, 1 May 2020 — Support for Native Hawaiian Inmates [ARTICLE]

Support for Native Hawaiian Inmates

As a result of overcrowding in state prisons and the enhanced risk of COVID-19 infection due to close confines and inadequate hygiene, the State Supreme Court is considering limited relrease of certain incarcerated individuals. Eligibility requirements for early release of inmates due to COVID-19 include those serving sentences for misdemeanors or petty misdemeanors, pretrial detainees for misdemeanors (other than domestic violence), pretrial detainees for some felony charges, and inmates serving sentences of less than 18 months for some felony offences. Excluded from consideration for early release are inmates incarcerated for violent offences including sexual assault, or for robbery , burglary or breaking and entering. To prepare, OHA has been meeting with a eoalhion of concerned organizations, advocates and service providers to coordinate an emergency response to the reentry of these individuals into the civilian populahon. OHA has identified three primary areas of need in order to stabilize the reentry process for persons reentering their communities at this very uncertain and dangerous time. These include: securing housing, case management and providing eell phones. In addition to the obvious need to help reentering individuals secure stable housing and navigate the application processes for benefits like Foodstamps, MedQuest and cash aid, OHA Policy Advocate Kamaile Maldonado notes that along with having a mailing address, obtaining a phone "is absolutely necessary to assist individuals in applying for public benefits, especially now." With Native Hawaiians currently comprising 39% of the prison populaīion, OHA is also working with organizations like the UH Medical-Legal Pai'tnership and the Hawai'i Heahh and Harm Reduction Center to assess the capacity of service-pro-vider organizations and to identify potential funding sources to suppoi1 non-profit organizations that may be willing to assist these individuals with their reentry. In SEE 0HA RESP0NDS ON PAGE 30