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Privately run
prison a must
-- Cayetano
The governor says little
By Richard Borreca
progress has been made
in reforming the system
Star-BulletinIn a last-minute attempt to revive his plans for a privately run state prison, Gov. Ben Cayetano wrote to legislative leaders this morning saying private business is the only hope for the prison system.
To show the extent of the prison problem, Cayetano released the names of 48 prison guards, deputy sheriffs, drivers and clerks attached to the prison who were fired, convicted or permitted to resign from 1992-1999.
Saying little progress has been made in reforming the prison system, Cayetano called another state-built and operated prison "counterproductive." The governor, who first wanted a privately run prison facility on the mainland, says any new prison must be operated outside of state civil service laws and rules.
"We will continue to work hard to improve the current prison system, but it will take many years before any real progress is made," he said.
Cayetano says the prison system has been his biggest frustration since becoming governor six years ago. He adds that the average prison guard has 19.16 hours of sick leave, 3.5 hours of leave without pay and 0.2 hour of unauthorized leave a month.
Since 1995, the department of public safety has had 84 lawsuits settled against it, costing the state $4.2 million. In addition, there have been 489 suspension, 105 reprimands and 38 persons fired since 1995. During the same time, the state has paid more than $3 million in overtime over payments to public safety workers, Cayetano said.
The House and Senate have been unable to agree on the bill because the United Public Workers union has objected to the state allowing a private company to build and operate a prison in Hawaii.
"The House has supported authorizing the governor to operate the prison privately and we're continuing to work toward that goal in conference," House Majority Leader Ed Case said.
Case said the bill is "very actively" in conference and in the most recent conference talks the House has agreed to the Senate's position of giving the governor full authority to privatize the prison.
Rep. Nestor Garcia, chairman of the House Public Safety Committee, said this morning that the House and Senate are expected to meet later today on the bill. "The governor is entitled to his own methods in trying to influence the legislature," Garcia said. Yesterday, Garcia admitted that UPW lobbying has so far blocked plans for a private prison.
Star-Bulletin reporter Crystal Kua
contributed to this report.
