The Star-Advertiser’s Nov. 3 editorial, “New Oahu jail an urgent necessity,” rightly emphasizes that rehabilitation is more cost-effective than incarceration. However, it uncritically accepts the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (DCR) argument that a new $1.2 billion jail is essential for reform. This flawed reasoning ignores Hawaii’s failure to address the root causes of crime and recidivism. Building a new facility without fundamentally reforming the DCR is like painting a sinking ship.