Facts & Statistics
Recent research demonstrates the over-representation of Native Hawaiians in the criminal justice systems.
(Umemoto et al., 2012).
These disparities are reportedly the effect of the social, political, and economic conditions which increase the prevalence of antisocial and criminal behavior among Native Hawaiian youth, as well as the results of institutional bias. In 2010, OHA released the study “The Disparate Treatment of Native Hawaiians in the Criminal Justice System.” This research with the Justice Policy Institute, University of Hawaiʻi and Georgetown University found:
Given a determination of guilt, Native Hawaiians are more likely to get a prison sentence than all other groups.
Native Hawaiians receive longer prison sentences than most other racial or ethnic groups.
Native Hawaiians are sentenced to longer probation terms than most other racial or ethnic groups.
Native Hawaiians make up the highest percentage of people incarcerated in out-of-state facilities.
Parole revocations contribute to the number of Native Hawaiians in prison in Hawai‘i.
Without a sufficient number of culturally appropriate services, Native Hawaiians are not given the best chance at achieving success upon re-entry into the community.
Furthermore, the collateral consequences of Native Hawaiian involved in the criminal justice system extend way beyond the sentence and time served, such as:
Breaking up the family (especially for those inmates sent out of state)
Limited employment opportunities once released from prison due to a “conviction.”
Diminished educational opportunities especially post-high
Exclusion from political and civic participation
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