U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO INVESTIGATE YOUTH CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
August 30, 2004
HONOLULU - The ACLU of Hawaii learned last Friday that the U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the conditions at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility. The federal investigation comes nearly one year after the ACLU first exposed the inhumane and unconstitutional conditions at HYCF.
"The decision of the federal government to investigate HYCF confirms that there are serious concerns about the facility," said Lois K. Perrin, ACLU legal director. "The ACLU hopes that the State will use the investigation as an opportunity to take advantage of the resources of the federal government and to heed the advice of the experts who will study the facility. With a detailed action plan, HYCF should be able to effect needed change."
The authority of the federal government to investigate and litigate, if necessary, comes from the Civil Rights for Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA) as well as the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. When wards are subjected to dangerous conditions and practices of confinement. CRIPA may be used to require facilities to comply with statutory and constitutional standards.
Perrin added "Although there has been some improvement out at HYCF since the arrival of the new administrator, Kaleve Tufono-Iosefa, there is still a lot of work to be done. Hopefully the CRIPA investigation and findings will help the State to improve the unduly punitive and unconstitutional living conditions."
Related Information:
Report of Findings and Recommendations on the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility
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