Gov. Linda Lingle is now back to square one in finding a director for the long-troubled Department of Public Safety.

The state Senate on Monday refused to confirm interim public safety director Iwalani White, saying she had made mistakes and had shown bad judgment.

Concerns senators had with White clearly outweighed the department's dire need for strong leadership to fix its many problems.

But those problems must be fixed quickly. Let's not forget the system was once under federal oversight for failing to ensure prisoners were treated humanely.

To get the job done, Gov. Linda Lingle should focus on finding an experienced corrections administrator from outside the state who is skilled at turning around troubled institutions and making those course corrections quickly.

After decades of decline, the system needs someone with a solid track record who is able to find innovative solutions and work effectively with staff as well as with prison advocates. An outside administrator will bring a fresh perspective to a department so many now view as unmanageable.

The very nature of its responsibilities makes the Department of Public Safety among the most difficult state agencies to manage. So it's imperative that the new director be given the resources and support to accomplish the job.

A prompt solution is needed to avoid deeper problems in the department and the possibility of renewed federal oversight.

The state owes it to its citizens to run this department well both to ensure the public's safety and to protect the constitutional rights of prisoners. Let's get it right so the federal government doesn't have to step in again.