Artrina De Lima : Maui Jail Suicide Sparks Concern

By | July 1, 2024

– Suicide at Maui Jail
– Grieving family Maui Jail.

Accident – Death – Obituary News : The recent death of Artrina De Lima at the Maui Community Correctional Center marks the sixth suicide at the facility in the past four years, a troubling trend that has raised questions about mental health services and staffing levels at the jail. De Lima, known to her family as Trina, was found hanged in her cell on May 13 and passed away six days later after being removed from life support. Her death has sparked renewed concerns about the state of mental health care for inmates in Hawaii’s correctional facilities.

You may also like to watch : Who Is Kamala Harris? Biography - Parents - Husband - Sister - Career - Indian - Jamaican Heritage

De Lima’s family describes her as a woman who deeply valued her role as a mother, but struggled with personal challenges and mental health issues in recent years. She had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and was homeless in the Paia area before her arrest on a petty misdemeanor charge in April. Despite her struggles, her family insists that she would not have taken her own life, as her children were her top priority.

The disproportionate number of suicides at MCCC in recent years has been a cause for alarm, especially when compared to suicide rates at other correctional facilities in Hawaii. Data compiled by Honolulu Civil Beat indicates that there have been a total of only 10 suicides in all of Hawaii’s in-state facilities during the same period, with MCCC accounting for more than half of those deaths. The facility houses just 210 prisoners, yet has seen a high number of suicides, raising concerns about the adequacy of mental health services and staffing levels.

Wookie Kim, legal director of the ACLU of Hawaii, expressed shock at the statistics and emphasized the urgent need for better mental health care in Hawaii’s correctional system. He highlighted the underfunded, understaffed, and under-resourced nature of the current system, which can exacerbate mental health issues among inmates. Staff shortages, lack of programming, and inadequate supervision can all contribute to a challenging environment for individuals with mental illness.

Cara Compani, interim oversight coordinator of the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, echoed these concerns, pointing to high vacancy rates for civilian staff in jails and prisons across the state. She emphasized the need for more community-based mental health services to divert mentally ill individuals from the criminal justice system. Compani also stressed the importance of providing adequate training for staff to identify and intervene in cases of potential suicide.

You may also like to watch: Is US-NATO Prepared For A Potential Nuclear War With Russia - China And North Korea?

The tragic death of Artrina De Lima has reignited calls for improved mental health care and staffing levels at Hawaii’s correctional facilities. Her family is demanding answers and accountability from corrections officials, determined to uncover the truth behind her death. As the state grapples with the aftermath of yet another inmate suicide, advocates and officials alike are calling for urgent reforms to prevent further tragedies in the future..

– suicide at Maui Jail
– grieving family Maui Jail.

   

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *