HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii State Hospital is operating at 30% over capacity, creating a revolving door for homeless people with mental illness who commit minor crimes, officials told state senators Monday.
The overcrowded facility has become overwhelmed by non-violent mentally ill people arrested for minor offenses like sleeping in parks or trespassing. A law enacted five years ago set time limits on how long individuals can be held for evaluation, forcing early releases before treatment is complete.
“They are expedited and they need to be released after seven days,” said hospital administrator Mark Lindscott.
Admissions surge strains system
Hospital admissions have increased to over 600 per year, with two-thirds of patients having been hospitalized previously and at least 22% experiencing homelessness. People being evaluated make up 18% of the patient population.
“We try to connect them with IHS (The Institute for Human Services), other places so that they actually have a good discharge plan and a safe one. They often self-sabotage,” Lindscott said.
The overcrowding prevents people who need commitment but haven’t committed crimes from being admitted.
Prison facilities cannot accommodate the overflow due to inadequate mental health resources.
“We can’t provide a level of care that they need to have them in an incarceral setting when they need to be in a therapeutic setting only damages them more, I believe,” said Tommy Johnson, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation director.
Johnson reported having an alarming number of mentally ill people at Halawa Prison.
“We cannot now take more bodies in when the experts are already telling us that we have 40-something people that need to go somewhere,” he said.
Limited solutions explored
The Hawaii Department of Health has moved about 100 patients to other facilities, but senators say the measure is insufficient.
“I wanted the public to know how dire it was at the Hawaii State Hospital. We are trying to find solutions to decompress what is going on,” said Sen. Joy San Buenaventura.
Senators plan to push for more supportive housing in the community and new health department facilities for evaluating people, hoping to open beds for individuals who need commitment but haven’t committed crimes.