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.  (SB2074 SD2)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        2074
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           S.D. 2
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
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 eighty-four thousand women throughout America's
 
 3 jails and prisons.  Women account for six per cent of the
 
 4 population behind bars.  The legislature further finds that
 
 5 although the number of incarcerated women has always been
 
 6 significantly lower when compared to that of incarcerated men,
 
 7 women are being jailed at a much faster rate.  Between 1980 and
 
 8 1998, the incarceration rate for women jumped five hundred
 
 9 sixteen per cent.
 
10      The legislature recognizes that Hawaii's incarceration rate
 
11 has mirrored this national trend.  In 1972, Hawaii had only one
 
12 woman in prison.  By 1992, Hawaii had one hundred sixty-four
 
13 female inmates.  As of January 3, 2000, there were approximately
 
14 three hundred ninety-eight women housed in Hawaii's correctional
 
15 facilities, with an additional eighty-three women housed at the
 
16 Oklahoma correctional facility.
 
17      Although the rate of incarcerated females has increased
 
18 dramatically, the range and quality of programming offered to
 
19 female adult and juvenile offenders has not.  Currently male
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           S.D. 2
                                                        
                                                        

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

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           S.D. 2
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (3)  Three female ex-offenders to be appointed by the
 
 2           director of public safety; and
 
 3      (4)  Members from the criminal justice community, community
 
 4           agencies experienced with the female offender and ex-
 
 5           offender populations and their needs, and the business
 
 6           community to be appointed by the director of public
 
 7           safety.
 
 8 The director of public safety shall serve as chairperson of the
 
 9 task force.  The task force shall submit a report of its findings
 
10 and recommendations to the legislature no later than twenty days
 
11 prior to the convening of the 2001 regular session.
 
12      SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
13 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $      , or so much
 
14 thereof as may be necessary, for fiscal year 2000-2001, to
 
15 provide support for the task force.
 
16      SECTION 4.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
17 department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.
 
18      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2000.