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The residents of Ka Hale Ho‘āla Hou No Nā Wāhine are women transitioning to the community from the Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC). The majority of them are incarcerated for non-violent crimes linked to their drug addiction, which is often deeply rooted in past trauma and abuse.
The profile of Hawaii’s female offender indicates that she: - is likely to be a woman of Hawaiian/part Hawaiian ethnicity (40%)
- is likely to report childhood and sexual victimization (60%)
- is serving time for felony drug charges (35%) or property offenses (36%)
- has experienced some violence in her life (80%)
- has a history of substance abuse (95%) and mental health problems (33%)
- is between the ages of 21-39
- is the mother of at least one child (60%)
source: Meda Chesney-Lind, Women's Pathways to Criminality, 2000
Although the number of women in prison has grown steadily over the last several decades, the great majority of female offenders do not pose a threat to public safety. In fact, these women typically show great potential to become highly productive and involved members of the community. It is important that we do not give up on these women. Learning new behaviors, new ways of thinking, and how to deal with challenges while sober are major changes required of them. They need our support if they are to succeed on this difficult and rewarding journey.
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