WAILUA — Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center Warden Neal Wagatsuma has retired, ending a 26-year stay as the head of the facility, the state Department of Public Safety announced Tuesday.
WAILUA — Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center Warden Neal Wagatsuma has retired, ending a 26-year stay as the head of the facility, the state Department of Public Safety announced Tuesday.
KCCC Corrections Supervisor Jerry Jona is temporary acting warden until official recruitment positions open.
Wagatsuma has been with the department for 38 years, and started his career with DPS in October 1983 as a social worker. He moved to the role of KCCC corrections supervisor in October 1992, and was promoted to KCCC warden in May 1995. Max Otani, DPS director, praised Wagatsuma for his long and “devoted” career.
Good for the females at KCCC. They will never have to go through the psychological abuse that he tormented the incarcerated females.
I don’t know if it was a game to him but he had women and men go on camera and explain their trauma: sexual assaults, drug addictions, and other problems but he mainly wanted to hear the women’s sexual and drug stories in the lifetime stand program.
It was totally weird and unacceptable behavior. There were several women who filed lawsuits but was dismissed for some odd and corrupt reason by the corrupt judicial system in Kauai.
Anyone who had went through what he put them through should have filed federal criminal charges against his sick ways to implement a quid pro quo program called the lifetime stand.
And snitching on people in that program were rewarded.
Have fun on Oahu and maybe get a massage or two while you’re at it.
Human trafficking.
It is absolutely false that the Warden was abusive towards any female inmates. He has had nothing but good intentions and anyone who is honest that has been in LTS can attest to that.
Anyone coming into LTS comes in willing. Don’t believe any of the hype that you hear. Be a thinking individual not a trained monkey as Warden used to say. It was an honor and a blessing to participate in the LTS program. Warden dedicated his life to helping the worst of the worst and the community. It was his life’s passion and he was the most committed, dedicated, and driven person. He worked tirelessly and with single minded devotion to try to help those who could not or would not help themselves.
Warden continues to be near and dear to my heart and I am glad that I have finally decided to follow the LTS commandments. Do so has made my life better immeasurably and I will forever be grateful to the time and energy that Warden and the KCCC staff spent in trying to get thru to me .
Congrats Warden and live well!
He really made a big difference in many people’s lives. I am so grateful for the guidance he gave to our family member who was at KCCC for a few years. Our lives are better for it. Aloha Warden, and Bless you.
Oahu massage parlors going be happy he has more free time.
Congratulations Warden Neal…what an asset you’ve become to Kauai prison! It’s ashame that not all inmates was able to understand what your intentions, presence and teaching were about…and for them I will continue to pray for them that some day they will understand or GET IT!.. Well I was there I took full advantage of learning to be a better person and to some how use it in the community for the better ( pay it forward)… Between you Warden and other ACO’S I’d like to think I did got it!! And I can only be grateful and to understand the Word of God, I’m blessed. Amen thank you once again for your contributions to Kauai’s community at KCCC. I remember you saying don’t come back, because it will be different!! And I never gave it another thought… YvetteVictorino from Mississippi…