REPORT TITLE: 
Female parity in corrections


DESCRIPTION:
Establishes a task force to develop a plan to increase the
availability of gender appropriate programming in the criminal
justice system. (SD1)


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           2074
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there are
 
 2 approximately 84,000 women throughout America's jails and
 
 3 prisons.   Women account for six percent of the population behind
 
 4 bars.  The legislature further finds that although the number of
 
 5 incarcerated women has always been significantly lower when
 
 6 compared to that of incarcerated men, women are being jailed at a
 
 7 much faster rate.  Between 1980 and 1998, the incarceration rate
 
 8 for women jumped 516 percent.
 
 9      The legislature recognizes that Hawaii's incarceration rate
 
10 has mirrored this national trend.  In 1972, Hawaii had only one
 
11 woman in prison.  By 1992, Hawaii had 164 female inmates.  As of
 
12 January 3, 2000, there were approximately 398 women housed in
 
13 Hawaii's correctional facilities, with an additional 83 women
 
14 housed at the Oklahoma Correctional Facility.
 
15      Although the rate of incarcerated females has increased
 
16 dramatically, the range and quality of programming offered to
 
17 female adult and juvenile offenders has not.  Currently male
 
18 inmates housed have more community placement options, more
 
19 transitional housing programs, and more job lines and training
 
20 opportunities.
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           2074
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1      The legislature believes that due to the unique needs of
 
 2 female offenders, more gender-responsive services and programs
 
 3 are necessary.  Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to
 
 4 establish a task force to develop a plan to increase the
 
 5 availability of gender appropriate programming in the criminal
 
 6 justice system.
 
 7      SECTION 2.  There is established the task force on parity
 
 8 for female offenders which shall be administratively attached to
 
 9 the department of public safety.  The task force shall review all
 
10 programs currently offered to female adult and juvenile offenders
 
11 in the custody of the department of public safety, identify
 
12 inadequacies with the current system, and develop a plan to
 
13 increase interagency cooperation to address the needs unique to
 
14 female offenders.  The task force shall consist of no more than
 
15 twenty members, who shall serve without compensation, and shall
 
16 include:
 
17      (1)  The director of public safety or a designated
 
18           representative;
 
19      (2)  The executive director of the office of youth services
 
20           or a designated representative;
 
21      (3)  Three female ex-offenders to be nominated by the
 
22           director of public safety; and
 
23      (4)  Members from the criminal justice community, community
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           2074
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1           agencies experienced with the female offender and ex-
 
 2           offender populations and their needs, and the business
 
 3           community.
 
 4 The director of public safety shall serve as chairperson of the
 
 5 task force.  The task force shall submit a report of its findings
 
 6 and recommendations to the legislature no later than twenty days
 
 7 prior to the convening of the 2001 Regular Session.
 
 8      SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
 9 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $30,000, or so much
 
10 thereof as may be necessary, for fiscal year 2000-2001, to
 
11 increase the availability of gender appropriate programming in
 
12 the criminal justice system.
 
13      SECTION 4.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
14 department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.
 
15      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2000.