Inmate Assistance Programs

Meeting with Tommy Johnson (Director, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR)), Sanna Munoz (Deputy Director for Rehabilitation Programs and Services, DCR), Pamela Sturz (Deputy Director for Correctional Institutions, DCR), and Dr. Michael Champion (Senior Advisor for Mental Health and the Justice System, Office of the Governor) to discuss potential future projects, Reentry 2030, and Justice Reinvestment. Expressed interest in technical assistance (TA) for programming within facilities and issues with jail overcrowding.Â

Meeting with Senator Wakai (Majority Floor Leader) to debrief on HCR-23 Task Force and potential future JRI project within the state of Hawaii.

Meeting with Adrian Dhakhwa (Deputy Attorney General) to discuss Rule 40 litigation over HPA minimums and the potential for fixed minimums in Hawaii.Â

Attended the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission public meeting with Christin Johnson (Coordinator, HCSOC), Mark Patterson, (Chairman, HCSOC), Honorable Michael Town (Commissioner, HCSOC), Martha Torney (Commissioner, HCSOC), and members of the community. During the meeting, HCSOC members announced the resignation of Ted Sakai (Commissioner, HCSOC), discussed legislative priorities for 2024 legislative session, swore in new commissioner Honorable R. Mark Browning, and provided a brief summary of the Monthly HCSOC Coordinator Report.

Meeting with Pamela Ferguson-Brey (Executive Director, Hawaii Victim Compensation) and Dennis Dunn (Retired Director, Victim Witness Kokua Services, Department of Prosecuting Attorney’s Office) to discuss victim perspectives on HPA minimum setting; they expressed interest in more victim services/resources

Meeting with Sean Aaronson (Committee Counsel, House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs Committee) to discuss CSG Justice Center and the Hawaii Legislature. Â

Meeting with Jeff Locke (Senior Policy Advisor, BJA), Robert Shelor (Senior Policy Advisor, BJA), Len Engel (Director of Policy and Campaigns, CJI), Barbara Pierce (Director of Justice Initiatives, CJI), and Colby Dawley Deputy Director, CJI) to discuss (1) ongoing engagement efforts on the JRI Assessment Center; and (2) any remaining issues related to JRI ripening

Meeting with West Virginia’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation staff Patrick Mirandy (Chief of staff to Commissioner of West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation), Molly Mullins (IT Director), Jeff Hardy ( Manager of infrastructure and systems), Anne Thomas (Assistant Commissioner to the Bureau Community Corrections), Jonathan Huffman (Director of records and inner state compacts), Misty Adams ( Director of offender services), Della Hall (secretary to Patrick Mirandy), and Joseph C.

Meeting with Roni Sheets (Kanawha County Chief Public Defender) to discuss the update on JRI engagement and discuss the political landscape and appetite for JRI.

Meeting with Keith Hoover (Deputy Administrative Director & Counsel, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia), Nicole Cofer (Director, Division of Magistrate Court Services), Stephanie Bond (Director, Division of Probation Services), Magistrate Brent L. Hall (Kanawha County), Magistrate Jean Ann Luikart (Putnam County), and Magistrate Joseph L. Mendez (Logan County) to discuss pretrial interventions to assist individuals with substance use disorders, emphasizing the need for early support to prevent escalation into more serious offenses.