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| Lawmakers Upset Hawaii Gov. Won't Build Prison |
| By KITV |
| Published: 04/24/2003 |
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Some lawmakers say Gov. Linda Lingle is dragging her feet and delaying construction of a new prison. They said the recent escape from Halawa makes building a new facility more important than ever. Lawmakers say overcrowding was one reason the escape was possible. They've spent years deciding where a new prison should go and they say they are frustrated the governor isn't ready to go along. It has taken years for lawmakers to agree that a new correctional center should be built adjacent to Halawa prison. Now, they want the governor to find a contractor and get to work. 'The placement is suitable. At this point we want the governor to exploit the plan to build a new facility there,' Rep. Scott Saiki said. However, the governor said she's making no decision until Public Safety Director John Peyton starts work this summer. 'In fairness to our new director, we'll let him come in do a good analysis of where we stand today and then make recommendations going forward,' Lingle said. 'The overcrowding will continue. The governor has cut 35 beds on the mainland in her budget so we will have a shortage of beds and we need to do something now,' Saiki said. 'I can understand why the Legislature would be so frustrated because they have not been able to deal with this problem,' Lingle said. Some say a new prison should have extra-high security cells for people like escapee Albert Batalona who said, 'you bet' when asked if he would try again. The three escapees that broke out of Halawa prison recently may end up at a super-max security facility in the mainland. The current prisons director said he probably can't keep them here. 'It would be nice if we could but we don't have an institution here that is specifically geared to people of that ilk,' acting Public Safety Director James Propotnick said. The governor promises she will have a recommendation for the next Legislature early next year. |
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