Research clearly shows that restorative justice interventions are more effective at reducing repeat crime and reducing recidivism than our current mainstream justice systems (Sherman & Strang 2007,  http://www.smith-institute.org.uk/pdfs/RJ_full_report.pdf).  

Prison without rehabilitation only creates more crime.  Hawai‘i’s prison recidivism rates are consistent with the U.S. national average with about 50% of all the people being released from prison coming back within only two years of their release.  

Aotearoa (New Zealand), which provides more rehabilitation in its prisons than Hawai‘i, has almost a 15% lower rate with 37% of their incarcerated people back into prison within two years, but that is bad news for the Kiwis who would like to see even less recidivism (http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0807/S00086.htm).  

The Hawai‘i state legislature recognized the importance of reentry and reducing recidivism, and over Governor Lingle’s veto last year, it passed the Comprehensive Reentry Act, which includes restorative interventions including Restorative Circles, a Hawai‘i developed reentry planning process for incarcerated people and their loved ones (http://www.realjustice.org/library/hawaiiprisons.html).  Unfortunately for Hawai‘i, however, its current state administration wants to instead increase prison beds with “tent” prisons, without significantly increasing rehabilitation and reentry.

In the 1970s there were less than 20 women incarcerated in Hawai‘i.  Today the number of incarcerated women is around 750 and includes a disproportionate share of Native Hawaiian.  Something is wrong. Recidivism is terribly high, the system has not worked for years, and needs to change.

Any ideas for convincing the Hawai‘i state administration that ignoring reentry, rehabilitation, and increasing prison beds is a bad idea, are very welcome.