HI - Two Teens Still on Run from Juvenile Sex-Offender Treatment Facility

Original Article

08/02/2011

By Ron Mizutani

Honolulu Police continue to search for two teenage boys who escaped from a juvenile sex-offender treatment facility in Pearl City Sunday night. The incident has re-ignited concerns about the treatment center which is a quarter mile away from two schools.

It's known to Pearl City residents as Benchmark, a 10-bed facility on the Waimano Training School and Hospital grounds that treats teenage boys 12-through-18 who aren't classified as sexual predators or violent sexual offenders but have had sexual relations with family members. The teens are ordered by the court to receive residential treatment; most are there for 1-to-2 years.

"The facility is secure, it's surrounded by a 10-foot fence," said Janice Okubo of the State Health Department. "There's an additional three-feet of fencing over that 10 feet. There's also surveillance cameras inside and outside of the facility. The last time we had a run-away from the facility was back in 2005."
- Secure?  Really?  Then how did two teens escape?

That changed at 7-30 Sunday night when two teens, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old escaped from the facility during a fire alarm.

"They assured us that none of this would happen and should anybody escape we would be the first line that they would inform," said Pearl City resident Myrna Sugiyama.

"I guess we just have to keep our door locked again and just make sure everything is secure," said Lois Miyashiro.

Miyashiro and Sugiyama were part of a group that strongly opposed the facility in 2000 when it first opened. Many were concerned that teenage sex-offenders who escaped would be a threat to children at nearby Momilani Elementary School and Pearl City High School.

"We brought up all the reasons why it shouldn't be there the high school is right there, the elementary school is right there and so at that point we told them we didn't want it," said Miyashiro.

"In fact they said they wouldn't be in your backyard they'll be way far away from the facility but then we said well they have to come through our neighborhood don't they," said Sugiyama.

The facility is run by Benchmark, one of the largest mental health agencies in the U.S. Benchmark is contracted by the state. Its executive director declined to comment. The state is investigating.

"There are many success stories and these kids are able to stay in the community and to get better in their own communities and be close to their family and get the best kind of treatment that the could possible have in Hawaii," said Okubo.

In the meantime the teenagers remain on the run. The state says because of confidentiality issues, a description of the minors cannot be given.