Family sues in death of
inmate acquitted for
mental disorders

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By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com

The family of an inmate who died after being beaten by a fellow inmate at the Oahu Community Correctional Center is suing the state, saying Roman Brewster should have been at the Hawaii State Hospital, not in prison.

The wrongful-death lawsuit, filed yesterday in Circuit Court, alleges that Public Safety and Health Department officials were negligent for failing to commit Brewster to the State Hospital, where he could get appropriate mental health treatment. Brewster suffered from various mental disorders, according to the complaint.

The suit said state officials should have known that persons acquitted of crimes were being improperly incarcerated.

Brewster was initially sent to the State Hospital after he was acquitted of criminal offenses because of his physical or mental disorders. He was later placed on conditional release, but he violated the terms of his release and was sent back to prison in April 1999.

The court revoked his conditional release a month later, and he was recommitted to the State Hospital. However, he remained in prison, where he was severely beaten and died on July 22, 1999, the complaint said.

Prison and Health Department officials could not be reached for comment.