A former Halawa inmate is raising claims of violence and corruption inside Hawaii's prison system after a murder there, which is bad news for the state's Department of Corrections.

• A 66-year-old inmate, Denise "Godwin" Foster, was beaten and strangled to death at Halawa Correctional Facility, and the death was ruled a murder with no suspect yet in custody.
• Ryan Spencer, who spent 10 years inside, says he witnessed violence, weak security, and possible corruption that rarely reaches the public.
• He says high-risk inmates are housed with lower-risk ones, and guards are too slow to break up fights when violence starts.
• Inmates often stay silent out of fear, which lets problems continue unchecked.
• Corrections director Tommy Johnson denies violence is hidden, saying every incident is reported and staff review surveillance footage, and that the department has fired and arrested corrupt staff before.

Outlook: Pressure is likely to grow for a closer look at Hawaii's prisons, but with no suspect named and inmates reluctant to talk, the Foster murder case could stay unresolved.