Management Audit of the Department of Corrections of the State of Hawaii

• NCJ Number: 121936
• Author(s): D A Ward; N A Carlson
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 157 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Hawaii Office of the Legislative Auditor
• Corporate Author: Regents of the University of Minnesota
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Report No. 89-16

Annotation

An audit of the management of the Hawaii Department of Corrections has concluded that the agency continues to have numerous problems, that staff morale at all levels is extremely low, and that the current administration does not appear to have solutions or even a plan for solutions to these problems.

Abstract

The State legislature asked for the audit as a result of its concerns about the agency's recent transition to departmental status and about progress in implementing a consent decree resulting from a lawsuit. The audit used information from previous studies, a survey of a randomly chosen sample of staff, and interviews with management staff at all the correctional facilities and the agency headquarters. Findings showed that many management problems are longstanding, others are to be expected during a reorganization, and most are not unique. However, one unique problem is the geographical separation of Hawaii from mainland correctional organizations and personnel. Many of its problems could be solved by sending task forces to the mainland to bring back effective programs and procedures already in use there. In addition, contacts should also be developed with Asian nations, many of which have new developments to offer in penal policy and practice. 20 references and attached survey results and agency responses.