MEDIA RELEASE

The state Auditor has released its management audit of the Department of Public Safety’s Contracting for Prison Beds and Services.

Interim Public Safety Director Jodie Maesaka-Hirata issued the following statement in response to the report.

“The Department acknowledges the recommendations of the Auditor and will address the concerns raised in the report. In addition, we will review all administrative rules, practices, and existing policies as it relates to the Mainland and Federal Detention Center Branch,” she said. “While we understand state budget constraints, our goal is to ensure that people are incarcerated humanely with the least restrictive means conducive to learning and growing to become productive citizens of Hawaii.”