HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0448.005 2014-2016October 19, 2015
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni St.
Hilo, HI 96720
Re: Resolution 268-15
Dear County Council Members:
I'tn writing in strong support of Resolution 268-15
PIPSWO
COMM. 443
COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF RAWAI11
Time 3. � L-, By .-
Date /o a,z ' �.
Cuts to community-based mental health services, among other factors, have led to untreated mentally ill
persons being consigned to the nation's correctional facilities. Jails and prisons have become the de facto
..service provider" to this population in far too many cases. Correctional facilities, including those in Hawaii,
are ill-equipped to provide for the special needs of this population. Jails, especially, house mentally ill
persons who tend to commit low-level offenses rather than serious, violent crimes. Yet, because of their
untreated mental illness, this population tends to re -offend and cycle back through our jails and, all too often,
prisons. Many of these individuals end up homeless and isolated from paltry services available in the
community. They need case management, access to mental health care, and, often, substance abuse treatment
as well as housing and social connection. Jurisdictions across the country have created models to deal with
this issue, often funded by the Federal Government. However, as in the case of Hawaii, once the Federal
funding ends, the State is unwilling to sustain the efforts.
As a Sociologist with a focus in criminology, I have worked on this issue hereon Hawaii Island. The Hawaii
island Reentry Program for those with co-occurring disorders (i.e., a mental health and substance abuse
disorder) operated in our local correctional facilities over the past few years under the management of Intake
Services (PSD). 'There was a version of the program that served the jail population and one that served
sentenced felons. i thought that the program serving the jail population held the most promise in connecting
these individuals with services in the community effectively. Since it operated at the "front end" of the
correctional system, its success had the most impact. A preliminary examination of the data from the jail
program found that case management was effective in connecting people to services in the community and
advocating for their needs. Sadly, funding was not sustained by PSD and the'program ended. But I hold out
hope that these promising beginnings could be built upon and Hawaii Island could have a very successful
initiative.
1 tell my students that public policy should be compassionate, but has to be smart, too. Our current practice is.
neither of those things. We have made a costly mistake in cutting services for the mentally ill, insofar as,
many of these individuals who a:re now crowding our jails could be living sustainably in the community. This
could be achieved at far less cost than housing them in jail or prison. We can be both compassionate and
smart about justice. Having worked in the field, especially with the many dedicated individuals who want to
be of service to this population here, I am convinced eve can make a difference here.
Sincerely,,.
Marilyh Brown, Ph. D.
Associate Professor. Sociology Dept.
University of Hawaii at Hilo
200 W. Kawili St.
Hilo, HI 96720
Comm. No. 14 "1
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