Half of HCCC Inmate Population Vaccinated Against COVID-19

More than half of all the inmates at Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center are now vaccinated against COVID-19.

On Tuesday, Sept. 21, the Public Safety Department (PSD) reported a 33% increase in HCCC prisoner inoculations from June 21 to Sept. 14. Fifty-six percent of inmates are now vaccinated.

PSD previously released a point-in-time study of inmate vaccinations for June 21, 2021, compiled by PSD’s Health Care Division. The percentages represented inmates in custody who were fully vaccinated as of June 21.

The Health Care Division recently conducted a second point-in-time study as of Sept. 14, 2021.

PSD says this data is a snapshot of current vaccination rates within the jail, noting the inmate population is transient and changes by the hour as courts order intakes and releases throughout the day.

Overall, the statewide percentage of fully vaccinated inmates from June 21 to Sept. 14 increased by 12% with 66% of prisoners being inoculated.

The only jail that didn’t see an increase in inmate vaccinations was at Maui Community Correctional Center, where PSD reported a 3% decline in vaccination rates.

The overall department-wide vaccination rate has increased to 84.5% as of Sept. 15, 2021. This is a 7.4% increase over the 77.1% reported on Aug. 16 to the Department of Human Resources and Development.

The Sept. 15 percentages represent 2,136 employees (out of 2,271) who submitted their attestation forms. It excludes employees who are out on various types of leave (medical, FMLA, military, etc.) and not available to report their status yet. PSD officials expect the percentage to rise even more once those employees on leave return and submit their attestation.

Below is a breakdown of vaccination rates within the various PSD departments based on attestation forms received:

Corrections (1,579 employees)
Vaccinated: 76.31%
Partial vaccination: 4.94%
Not vaccinated: 18.75%

Law Enforcement (332 employees)
Vaccinated: 85.84%
Partial vaccination: 2.71%
Not vaccinated: 11.45%

Administration (155 employees)
Vaccinated: 87.74%
Partial vaccination: 1.94%
Not vaccinated: 10.32%

Employees with the Hawaiʻi Paroling Authority and Crime Victim Compensation Commission are 100% vaccinated.

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

• Oʻahu Community Correctional Center – 27 inmate test results: Three positive, 24 negative. There were 147 inmate recoveries reported, which drops the total active inmate cases at OCCC to just 16. Two (2) OCCC employees reported a positive test result.
• Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center – Seven inmate test results: One positive, six negative. There were also four inmate recoveries reported which bring the active inmate cases down to two.
• Kauaʻi Community Correctional Center – 14 negative inmate test results. There were six inmate recoveries reported, which brings the total active inmate cases down to two.
• Waiawa Correctional Facility – Six negative inmate test results.
• Maui Community Correctional Center – One inmate recovery was reported. The facility is clear of all active COVID-19 cases.

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, click here.