Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula has issued an executive order temporarily placing the Department of Corrections (DOC) back under the Department of Public Safety (DPS), reversing a major structural reform enacted in 2022. The move comes amid continued inmate escapes and persistent security lapses at the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) and the Juvenile Detention Center (JDC).

The 2022 law, which created DOC as a standalone executive department, was intended to improve oversight, strengthen rehabilitation programs, and address chronic problems at the territory’s correctional facilities. At the time, lawmakers argued that DPS was overstretched and that corrections required focused leadership and dedicated resources.

However, Governor Pulaali’i’s new executive order issued on Monday, March 16, 2026, states that the reforms have not produced the intended results. Instead, escapes from TCF have “continued unabated,” including a recent incident in which a corrections officer allegedly helped an inmate flee by hiding him in the trunk of her vehicle. The order describes ongoing security failures as “a clear and immediate threat to public safety.”

Under the executive order, the DOC, TCF, and JDC will now operate under the direct oversight of DPS. The Commissioner of Public Safety has been appointed Interim Director of Corrections and will assume all powers and responsibilities of the DOC Director.

The order directs the Interim Director to stabilize operations by deploying personnel from both agencies, implement standard operating procedures, and improve staff training and professional standards. It also calls for a review of the legal authorities governing both DOC and DPS, with the Attorney General’s Office tasked to develop any necessary legislative proposals.

Governor Pula said the temporary transfer is necessary to restore order and ensure the safety of correctional staff, inmates, and the public. The order emphasizes the Governor’s responsibility to protect the community and ensure the effective functioning of executive branch agencies.

The administration has not indicated how long the temporary transfer will remain in effect, but the legal review and potential legislative changes suggest that further restructuring may be considered.

The Governor’s nominations of Taʻaga Saʻite Moliga as Commissioner of Public Safety and Palaita Tusipasi Suiaunoa as Director of the Territorial Correctional Facility were both confirmed by the Fono last year.