David Y. Ige

HONOLULU – Full HECO power has been restored to the Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC).  Electricity was restored shortly after 10 p.m. yesterday.

A generator is still being used to power the air conditioning for the entire facility. The air conditioning will remain on the generator until a faulty transformer can be replaced. The part has been ordered. Electrical contractors are still determining what caused the initial power outage.

The electrical outage began on Friday afternoon.  Back-up generators kicked in immediately. All modules were secured during the power outage.  In order to help alleviate the uncomfortable conditions, an extra generator was brought in yesterday evening to power the air conditioning.  During the day the staff allowed inmates to have longer recreational periods in the outside recreation yard.

“The heat was uncomfortable not only for inmates, but for the men and women who work at the jail.  They did their jobs, promoting the safety and wellbeing of their fellow officers and staff, as well as the inmates, in less than ideal conditions, and I commend them for doing an excellent job,” said Nolan Espinda, Public Safety Director.  “OCCC was built over 40 years ago.  These kinds of problems will continue to happen until we can replace it with a modern, efficient building.  We hope to continue working with the legislature and the community to redevelop OCCC as soon as possible”.

The current OCCC was built in 1975.  There are currently 1,162 inmates at OCCC.  Bed capacity is 954.

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Toni Schwartz
Public Information Officer
Hawaii Department of Public Safety
Office: 808-587-1358
Cell: 808-683-5507
[email protected]
https://hawaii.gov/psd/

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