Study on ways to reduce incarcerated Native Hawaiians released

By AUDREY McAVOY
Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) - A task force that spent a year studying ways to reduce the number of Native Hawaiians in prison and involved in other parts of the criminal justice system has issued its report.

The report submitted to the Legislature on Thursday says resources should be directed toward children of incarcerated parents to reduce the number of families with successive generations in prison.

It says children of incarcerated parents are at higher risk of winding up running into legal problems themselves. The task force says education and programs for at-risk youth are inadequately funded.

The recommendation is among 38 outlined by the task force in its report.

Native Hawaiians make up about one-quarter of the state's population, but 39% of the state's inmates and those on parole.

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