Background

The Oʻahu Community Correctional Facility (OCCC) is the largest jail facility in Hawaiʻi, serving the entire island of Oʻahu as the local detention center for the First Circuit Court. As a jail, the facility houses pre-trial detainees, short-term (less than a year) sentenced inmates, and individuals serving time for parole and probation violations. In addition to its jail functions, OCCC provides reintegration programming for male sentenced felons through OCCC as well as the nearby Laumaka Work Furlough Center (LWFC).

The need for a new OCCC facility and a new location prompted the 2016 planning process that led to the current proposed plans for a new jail on the animal quarantine site in Halawa. In response to public calls for more stakeholder and community engagement and recommendations for a more restorative and Hawaiʻi-based approach, DCR contracted UHCDC to lead an independent engagement, programming, and proof of concept study to inform the work of future professional planning and design teams. UHCDC's work is shared here in this project storymap.

UHCDC Project Goals & Objectives

  • Engage diverse stakeholders to co-envision an alternative program and facility model for the proposed jail site in Hālawa AND a pathway toward community-based continuum of care.

  • Research restorative justice models that incorporate Indigenous knowledge, culturally grounded methods, and trauma-informed programs.

  • Consult with peer facilities for critical analysis, lessons learned, and best practices.

  • Share knowledge to increase public awareness and understanding.

  • Facilitate interagency alignment to support comprehensive reentry and diversion strategies.

  • Develop proof of concept design scenarios that reflect stakeholder input.

  • Draft a guideline document to be integrated into the pending Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new jail.