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 S.B. No. 120 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to develop and implement gender specific community based programs for women offenders to achieve gender equity in correctional progamming, and to make an appropriation for that purpose.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Hawaii Paroling Authority, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Community Alliance on Prisons, T J Mahoney & Associates, Kako'o 'Ohana Pa'ahao, ACLU, a Maui Council Member, and three private citizens.

Your Committee finds that the dramatic increase in the number of incarcerated women requires that they have programs in prison that are comparable to the rehabilitation opportunities provided to male inmates. Research has proven that women inmates have different needs for rehabilitation than men.

Your Committee is concerned that women inmates acquire the ability to obtain a livable income when they are released from confinement. Many women have children to support and no other family income. Your Committee requests the DPS to include programs under this measure to teach women inmates a marketable skill.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the term "gender specific" to "gender responsive", and making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for proper drafting.

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 S.B. No. 120, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 120, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.