Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 962 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate state matching funds under the Edward Byrne memorial state and local government formula grant program for the development, implementation, and maintenance of a sentencing simulation model.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Attorney General, Department of Public Safety, Public Defender, Corrections Population Management Commission, Honolulu Police Department, Maui Prosecuting Attorney, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney, Hawaii Police Department, and American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii.

The sentencing simulation model is a computer based program that provides forecasting and impact assessment capability when determining sentencing policy changes. This capability is currently not available to the State.

Your Committee finds that gathering, organizing, consolidating, and interpreting data on convicted defendants is essential to the efficient allocation of prison, probation, and community resources. The model will provide the State the necessary tools to address prison overcrowding.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 962 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.