What's Being Discussed

The Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission holds its monthly hybrid meeting on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. The Commission monitors Hawaii's prison and jail system on behalf of the public. Key topics include:

• Restrictive Housing update: How the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) and private prison operator CoreCivic are following a new restrictive housing rule that took effect July 1, 2026.
• New inmate classification system: Progress on rolling out a new system for categorizing people in custody.
• Legal opinion request: The Commission will submit a request for a legal opinion on whether it can access CoreCivic's internal policies.
• Legislative priorities: Updates on the Commission's budget request and two proposed bills — one on compassionate release and one amending state corrections law (HRS 353L).
• Oversight Coordinator report: Covers deaths in custody, complaints received, and findings about limited movement of incarcerated people within the prison system.
• Facility visit reports: Discussion of recent visits to the Hawaii Community Correctional Center (HCCC) and the Women's Community Correctional Center (WCCC).

Decisions Expected

• Approval of minutes from the September 9, 2026 meeting.
• Formal welcome of new Commissioner Dawn Clemente.
• Submission of a request for a legal opinion on CoreCivic policy access.

Who Should Pay Attention

• Incarcerated people and their families and loved ones
• Anyone interested in prison conditions or criminal justice reform in Hawaii
• Advocates working on compassionate release or sentencing policy
• Residents curious about how the state oversees privately operated correctional facilities

Public comment is welcome. Written testimony should be submitted by October 5, 2026 to hcsoc@hawaii.gov or by mail.