In October 2021, the Department of Public Safety (PSD) announced the implementation of a vaccine incentive program for inmates. The program allows inmates in PSD custody on or after March 3, 2021, through December 31, 2024, who are still in custody, and fully vaccinated against COVID-19, to receive a one-time incentive award of $50. PSD is also offering an additional $25 incentive for all fully vaccinated inmates who choose to receive the booster shot. The payments are deposited into the inmate’s spendable trust account.
PSD requested and received approval for $615,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds to be specifically used as an incentive initiative for offenders in custody. So far $146,400 has been expended.
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 other correctional facilities are as follows:
Oʻahu Community Correctional Center –159 inmate test results; 42 positive, 117 negative. 69 staff test results; 3 positive, 66 negative.
Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center – 64 inmate results; 4 positive, 60 negative. 4 staff test results received; 3 positive and 1 negative.
Maui Community Correctional Center –3 inmate test results: 1 positive, 2 negative. 2 positive staff test results.
Kauaʻi Community Correctional Center – 3 positive staff test results, 25 negative inmate test results.
Waiawa Correctional Facility – 1 positive staff test result, 12 negative inmate test results.
Halawa Correctional Facility – 1 positive staff test result. 4 employees have recovered.
COVID-19 updates for other PSD Divisions are as follows:
Sheriff Division – 16 positive staff test results. 2 previously reported positive Sheriff Division employees on Oʻahu have recovered.
Administration Division (Oʻahu) – 3 positive staff test results. 1 previously reported positive Training and Staff Development (TSD) section corrections officer recruit has recovered.
Photo credit: DPS
