HONOLULU -- State Health Director Bruce Anderson says that he will ask for special court permission to expedite construction of a new secure unit at the Hawaii State Hospital.

Anderson says the goal of the new building will be to relieve overcrowding and security problems at the Kaneohe facility. The new building would house criminal patients acquitted by reason of insanity or found unfit to stand trial.

"The new facility will be a secure facility, probably with fencing around it," Anderson said. "There will be other security measures involved, but it will help to expand the capacity at the state hospital as well as help to deal with some of the security issues there."

Anderson says he does not know how much such a building would cost.

The plan must be presented to U.S. Magistrate Kevin Chang, who was appointed special master of the hospital in charge of improving patient care in May. If approved, the plan will be then be sent to Gov. Ben Cayetano and the Legislature.

The hospital has been plagued in recent months by a rash of escapes.