Governor Josh Green, M.D.

 

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION

KA ‘OIHANA HOʻOMALU KALAIMA A HOʻOPONOPONO OLA

 

 

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

 

 

TOMMY JOHNSON

DIRECTOR

KA LUNA HO‘OKELE

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 2, 2024

 

Community turns out to learn and give feedback on the planned O‘ahu Community Correctional Center relocation project

 

 

‘AIEA — More than 60 people attended the O‘ahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC)  Community Engagement Workshop at the ‘Aiea Elementary School Cafeteria Thursday, February 1, 2024. Community members participated in activities to share their thoughts on the planned relocation of the O‘ahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC).

 

The University of Hawai‘i Community Design Center (UHCDC) hosted the workshop in partnership with the Hawai‘i Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (formerly the Department of Public Safety) to envision rehabilitative models for a new correctional facility and a more robust community-based continuum of care.

 

The meeting represents DCR’s ongoing commitment to maintain its active outreach efforts to keep the public up to date.

 

During the meeting, DCR Director Tommy Johnson provided an update to attendees on the relocation project.

 

A new correctional facility is sorely needed, Director Johnson said. “Parts of OCCC are 110 years old.” The department aims to have a Request for Proposal (RFP) posted for prospective bidders for the new OCCC in early 2025, if not sooner.

 

Area lawmakers, state and community leaders, stakeholders and residents attended the workshop. Attendees broke into groups where members of the UHCDC team facilitated activities to gather feedback from community members through interactive, co-design activities and group discussions related to the new jail and broader justice system.

 

At the community meeting, Cathi Ho Schar, director of the University of Hawai‘i Community Design Center, said, “We appreciate your wisdom, your understanding and your patience as we learn with and from all of you.”

 

“We take this privilege and responsibility very seriously,” Schar said.

 

The DCR contracted UHCDC in 2022 to lead an independent engagement, research and proof- of-concept study on the OCCC relocation project, to inform the work of future professional planning and design teams. The organization is not the contractor responsible for developing the RFP for the new jail.

 

 

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Photo credit: University of Hawai’i Community Design Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Media Contact:

Rosemarie Bernardo

Public Information Officer

Hawai‘i Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Phone: 808-587-1358

Cell: 808-683-5507

Email: [email protected]