Women's Community Correctional Center

The Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC) is the only women’s prison in the state of Hawaii. It also serves the needs of pre-trial and sentenced female offenders. The facility houses female offenders who are of maximum, medium, and minimum custody levels.

In 2018, Hawaii officials set aside $40 million for an expansion project at the Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC). According to Hawaii News Now, construction of the new 180-bed housing facility in Kailua will allow for the transfer of all female pre-trial detainees from the Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) in an effort to address overcrowding at Hawaii’s largest jail facility.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visitation hours are from 8:00am-10:00am, Saturdays and Sundays for General Population, Kaala, Ahiki and Maunawili Cottages. Each Cottage has one day of the weekend assigned as a visit day. The days are rotated on a monthly basis. Please call the facility to confirm your inmate’s visiting time.

Maunawili and Ahiki cottages visit together. Olomana Cottage visits every Saturday and Sunday from 8:00am-9:30am. Visitors must report no later than 9:00am. Upon announcing the visitation period has ended or at any time as directed by staff, visitors must immediately leave the visitation area.

All visitors entering the WCCC may be subject to a metal detector, ion scan, frisk/pat or strip search, or exposure to a Sheriff canine unit. All adult visitors are required to sign the “Consent to Search form” as a condition for entering WCCC. All minors are covered under the consent of their legal guardians/responsible adult escort. 

All visitors are subject to a pat search and other methods of search including electronic, and residual/chemical screening. All visitors are subject to a strip search when there is probable cause or reasonable suspicion.

Any intended visitor found with contraband will be denied the privilege of visitation and denied entry to WCCC. Contraband (i.e. firearm, destructive device, ammunition, object designed to be used as a weapon, narcotic drug, controlled substance, alcoholic or intoxicating beverage, currency (money), drug paraphernalia, paperwork (legal or otherwise), photos or anything not specifically authorized by the Warden for the use by any inmate or which inmates are prohibited from obtaining or possessing through regular institutional channels. 

Visitors are responsible for securing personal items not allowed into WCCC (i.e. keys, money, gum, jewelry, cell phones, and pagers). The items not allowed in WCCC may be stored in a locked vehicle or visitation locker. 

Loitering in the visitation area, walkways, grounds, or parking areas are not permitted. All visitors must refrain from yelling, shouting, or communicating to the inmates through the fenced areas. The ingress and egress for inmate visitation is through the main Kaala pedestrian gate. There will be no exceptions.

Visitation is a privilege and not a right. These privileges may be restricted if either the inmate/ visitor violates the rules. An individual directed to leave the WCCC premises due to rule violations/conduct and refuses to comply shall be charged with trespassing; also, visitation privileges may be suspended from the date of occurrence up to one year.

During each visiting period, inmates are allowed no more than two visitors. Each individual is counted as one visitor. “Switching” of visitors while a visit is in progress is prohibited. Any minor child less than 18 years of age shall require an escort by a responsible authorized adult. 

Inmates must submit a list of visitors for approval on the “Visit Request” form that is distributed in each housing unit with all required information. Both copies of the visit request form must be filled out and turned into the Visit Officer. 

“Visit Request” will only be accepted twice a year, during the months of January and July. Removal of any visitor from the inmate’s visitation list may be on a continuous basis. New Intakes will have 30 days after incarceration for immediate family members to visit and 30 days to submit their request to establish a permanent visiting list. 

Proof of relationship must be provided. The list shall consist of no more than 12 people, including family members/friends. When a permanent visiting list has been established, those individuals on the approved list may be allowed to visit.

Prior to the visit, visitors are required to show an approved photo identification (ID). Photos shall be identifiable by the bearer. Photo ID shall not be altered or fabricated. Approved ID is limited to the following: current driver’s license, current State ID, Military ID, or passport. Visitors under the age of 18 may present a birth certificate.

Visits will be structured to allow informal communication between the visitor/inmate. Visitor/inmate may embrace (hug) and exchange a brief kiss at the beginning/conclusion of the visit. 

Visitor/inmate may not engage in sexual activity, which includes the following: continued embracing and excessive kissing; placing of “hickeys” on person’s body; touching, rubbing, biting, kissing or fondling of genitals, breasts, buttocks, thighs, legs, back or stomach whether through or underneath clothing; sitting on laps; straddling of legs over each other; sexual intercourse; lying down; and females entering male bathrooms or males entering female bathrooms.

Any sexual stimulation or activity between visitor/inmate is strictly prohibited and will result in termination of the visit and possible removal of the visitor from the inmates visitation list for a period to be determined by the Warden or Designee. 

Visitors/inmates must obey the directions of the Correctional Officers at all times. Failure to do so will result in termination of the visit and possible suspension or termination of the visitation privilege.

VISITOR DRESS CODE 

Visitors will dress in a neat, appropriate, and conservative manner that is not unduly provocative, suggestive, or revealing, and does not resemble inmate attire or present adornments, or any clothing deemed inappropriate by staff. Medical alert bracelets, ID tags, and medical-approved eyewear are permitted.

There is no limit on the amount of correspondence an inmate receives. Books, magazines, food items, etc. may not be sent to an inmate.

All correspondence must go through approved channels. Staff monitors incoming/outgoing mail. Any suspicious mail that appears to cause a threat to the safety and security of WCF may cause a delay in the processing. 

Mail will be returned for the following reasons: first/last name and return address not listed, envelope has stickers, ink stamps, glitter, glue, drawings, bookmarks, lipstick/kiss marks, or inappropriate content (i.e. pornography, threatening remarks).

How to Call an Inmate

During assigned times, inmates have access to a phone based on a “collect call.” Inmates may make local, inter-island, mainland, and international calls. Responsibility for payment rests with the party accepting the call.

For complete details on how to call an inmate in Hawaii, please click here.

How to Send Money

After the first 30 days of incarceration, only individuals on the inmate’s visitation list are allowed to deposit money into the inmate’s account. Cashier’s checks/official bank drafts will be accepted through the mail, provided the sender is on the inmate’s approved visitation list. Please use the mailing address listed above.

The inmate’s name and SID number must be printed on the lower left corner of the Cashier’s check. All Cashier’s checks shall be made payable to Women’s Community Correctional Center.

Programs For Inmates

WCCC offers a 50-bed gender responsive, substance abuse therapeutic community called Ke Alaula. Other offerings included a cognitive-based curriculum, parenting and educational classes, domestic violence treatment, day reporting and electronic monitoring programs. 

Project Bridge is a program designed to assist female offenders with transitioning back to society through employment, education, and substance abuse aftercare treatment.

In addition to in-facility programs, WCCC participates in many community service projects for state, county agencies and non-profit organizations.

Pictures of Women's Community Correctional Center

Careers at Women's Community Correctional Center

Women's Community Correctional Center is run by the Hawaii Department of Public Safety. If you are interested in a job at Women's Community Correctional Center, click here.