David Y. Ige

HONOLULU – The Saguaro Correctional Center in Eloy, Arizona is resuming in-person, non-contact visitation for families of Hawaii inmates incarcerated there, effective February 28, 2022.  Inmates have been informed of the change. All families will have to follow new COVID guidelines for entry into the facility.

“The COVID-19 outbreak at Saguaro was quickly contained and all inmates have been tested and are clear of active infections. The Department of Public Safety has been in discussion with Saguaro officials, and we feel it is safe to resume visitation there as long as the families and inmates follow the added COVID-19 safety measures,” said Tommy Johnson, Deputy Director for Corrections.

All regular visitation rules will apply as per policy. Visitors must call the Saguaro visitation office to schedule visits and must schedule the visit at least 7 days in advance. The new COVID-19 safety measures include the following:

• Inmates must be fully vaccinated, including booster shots.
• Visitors do not have to be vaccinated but must show proof of a negative COVID test result (Antigen or PCR) taken within 24 hours of the visit. No home tests will be accepted.
• Masks must be worn at all times.
• The visitation areas will be sanitized between each visit session.

Inmate Booster Update

On January 3, the Department of Public Safety (PSD) announced a $25 incentive for all fully vaccinated inmates who choose to receive the booster shot. On January 13 PSD reported 255 inmates received the booster. As of February 11, 1,025 inmates, in-state and at the Saguaro Correctional Center in Eloy, AZ, have opted to receive the booster.

This $25 booster bonus is in addition to the one-time $50 incentive offered to all inmates in PSD custody who completed their full vaccination. The vaccine incentive program applies to all inmates in PSD custody on or after March 3, 2021, through December 31, 2024, who are still in custody. The payments are deposited into the inmate’s spendable trust account. A portion of the money is withdrawn for victim restitution.

COVID-19 testing is continuously being conducted in the state prisons and jails as well as in the contracted Saguaro Correctional Center in Eloy, AZ. The latest testing updates received for the correctional facilities are as follows:

Halawa Correctional Facility – 61 inmate test results; Nine (9) positive, 52 negative. One (1) employee has recovered.

Hawaii Community Correctional Center – 27 inmate test results; Four (4) positive, 23 negative.

Kauai Community Correctional Center – Six (6) inmate test results; One (1) positive, five (5) negative.

Oahu Community Correctional Center – 91 negative inmate test results. One (1) staff recovery was reported.

Waiawa Correctional Facility – One (1) negative inmate test result. Two (2) staff recoveries reported. The facility is completely clear of all active COVID-19 cases.

Women’s Community Correctional Center – Two (2) inmates have recovered. The inmate population is clear of all active COVID-19 cases.

Kulani Correctional Facility – One (1) staff recovery reported.

COVID-19 updates for other PSD Divisions are as follows:

Administrative Division – One (1) employee has recovered.

The Department of Public Safety (PSD) continues to encourage all staff and inmates to voluntarily get tested and receive the COVID-19 vaccination. For more detailed inmate testing data, PSD’s Pandemic Plan and information on response efforts made to safeguard the inmates, staff and public, visit the dedicated COVID-19 webpage at: https://dps.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/03/17/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-resources/.

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