Native Hawaiian Justice Task Force presents its report to the Hawaiʻi Legislature

News Release from OHA December 27, 2012

The nine-member Native Hawaiian Justice Task Force today presented its findings and recommendations to the Hawaiʻi Legislature.

The 28-page report reflects the perspectives and insights of more than 159 people who participated in various community meetings across the state in July and August.

The meetings prompted the Task Force’s 49 findings and 38 recommendations for addressing longstanding concerns about the disproportionate number of Native Hawaiians who are in prison in Hawaiʻi and the U.S. mainland.

Among the key findings is a lag in efforts to give Native Hawaiian inmates a fighting chance when they get out of prison. Key recommendations included a need for an emphasis on education to reduce the rate of recidivism and to give Native Hawaiian inmates hope for their future.

“It is a tragedy that in their homeland, Native Hawaiians are over represented at every stage of the criminal justice system,” said Michael Broderick, chairman of the Native Hawaiian Task Force and CEO at YMCA Honolulu. With its findings and recommendations, the Task Force has laid the groundwork for real change. But for anything significant to change, all of Hawaii must take responsibility to address this unacceptable and sad reality.”

Kamanaʻopono Crabbe, vice chairman of the Native Hawaiian Task Force and chief executive officer at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, added: “There is no looking away from this issue. The Task Force’s recommendations provide an opportunity to take meaningful action. We no longer have an excuse not to try.”

For more information about the findings and recommendations of the task force, visit: www.oha.org/nativehawaiianjusticetaskforce.

FULL TEXT: 2012 Native Hawaiian Justice Task Force Report