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Hawaii Report

Hawaii

IMPRISONMENT IN HAWAII

At year-end 2004, Hawaii prisons housed 4,174 inmates serving sentences of more than one year. Of these inmates, 3,736 were male and 438 were female. With a female imprisonment rate of 69 female prisoners per 100,000 female residents in 2004, Hawaii ranks 16th highest in its female imprisonment rate. With a 2004 overall imprisonment rate of 329 prisoners per 100,000 residents, Hawaii ranks 36th overall.

In 1977, Hawaii prisons housed 14 female inmates; by 2004, the female prison population had reached 438. Hawaii's female prison population was at its lowest with 14 female prisoners in 1977 (and again in 1980) and peaked at 474 female inmates in 1999.

GROWTH IN FEMALE IMPRISONMENT RATE

Between 1977 and 2004, Hawaii's female prison population grew by 3,029% with an average annual percent change of 15.2% per year.

Through the late 1970s and entire 1980s, Hawaii's female imprisonment rate was consistently at or below average, relative to other states. In the mid to late 1990s, however, Hawaii's female imprisonment rate began to increase quite dramatically, so that by 2004 its rate was substantially higher than the average across states. In 1977, Hawaii was one of the least punitive states in terms of female imprisonment (ranked 45th); by 2004, Hawaii had climbed to a rank of 16th.

MALE TO FEMALE IMPRISONMENT RATIO

The male to female imprisonment ratio indicates the number of male inmates for every female inmate. Although both female and male imprisonment rates have increased over the period of study, a shrinking ratio suggests that the number of female prisoners has increased at a faster pace. In 1977, across the states, there were an average of 26 male prisoners for every female prisoner; by 2004, this ratio had fallen to 13 male prisoners for every female prisoner. Hawaii's 1977 ratio was slightly higher than average with 28 male prisoners for every female prisoner. In 2004, Hawaii's male to female imprisonment ratio (9:1) remained substantially lower the average across states.

CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

According to the 2000 Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities, Hawaii has 10 correctional facilities. Of Hawaii's 10 correctional facilities, 3 house male prisoners only, 3 house female prisoners only, and 4 house both male and female prisoners.