Prisoners Face Challenges Pursuing Mistreatment Complaints

Why it matters locally: While Hawaii does not have state prisons, inmates incarcerated in federal facilities or in out-of-state private prisons where Hawaii contracts for inmate housing could be affected by the systemic issues highlighted in this report.

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Prisoners who file complaints about mistreatment often experience retaliation, according to an investigation conducted by NPR and The Marshall Project. The investigation found that the process of reporting abuse frequently presents considerable challenges for inmates. Prisoners are permitted to submit grievances regarding perceived mistreatment. However, the investigation concluded that individuals who do so often face negative repercussions.