Appropriates funds for community-based programs that assist female offender in transitioning from prison back into the community.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, given the problems associated with reentry as well as the high rate of recidivism among the former inmate population, programs that effectively assist the transition of former inmates from prison to the community are critical. Once released from prison, a former inmate faces such issues as housing restrictions, workplace restrictions, as well as the many informal restrictions as a result of prejudice against former offenders.

The legislature further finds that a person’s stay in a jail or prison costs society from $70 to $400 per day, depending upon the level of security measures involved. These costs can be dramatically reduced through the implementation of programs to assist these individuals' post-incarceration community integration.

In recent years, the number of incarcerated women has increased at an alarming rate. Nationally, women are 6.9 per cent of the prison population. In Hawaii, however, women are 11.99 per cent of the prison population. While the male prison population doubled between 1985 and 1995, the female population tripled, largely due to sentencing incarcerating female nonviolent first-time drug offenders.

The department of public safety reports that the number of female parole violators rose thirty per cent between January 1, 2001, and January 19, 2004, according to the state department of public safety. The number of male parole violators rose 18.3 per cent during the same period.

Research demonstrates that a multitude of differing issues are associated with female versus male offenders. Women have different pathways to prison, which often involve unresolved sexual or physical trauma or substance abuse to self-medicate. In a majority of cases, female offenders are non-violent and do not pose a threat to the community. For female offenders who are incarcerated stemming from a drug addiction, incarceration is not an effective method for dealing with the addiction. To break the cycle of substance abuse, crime, and incarceration, the root problem must instead be addressed. Currently, there is a lack of adequate programs or access to programs that can assist female offenders in successfully transitioning back into the community. The great majority of women inmates will be released into the community in need of skills and tools for successful transition.

The danger of female offenders becoming repeat offenders due to substance abuse presents huge economic and social costs to the public and the social service systems that are already grossly overtaxed. The majority of incarcerated female offenders are mothers of minor children under the age of eighteen and problems stemming from breaking up the family often become intergenerational.

Transitional programs that helps women coming out of prison to successfully reintegrate into the community have met with great success. TJ Mahoney & Associates, offers a transitional program for female offenders re-entering the community. The department of public safety indicates that over a three-year period sixty-eight per cent of women who have completed the TJ Mahoney & Associates program did not return to prison. In contrast, the most recent figures from the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics from 2002, indicate that of all prisoners released in 1994, sixty-seven and a half per cent were rearrested within three years of release. Community-based reintegration programs provide structure, monitoring, and accountability for female offenders returning to the community. They offer tools and a setting for practicing pro-social, responsible living, while instilling values and beliefs which allow women to overcome obstacles while remaining clean and sober.

As of January 15, 2005, the female offender count was six hundred fifteen women in the custody of the State. The State has currently contracted with the TJ Mahoney & Associates program for thirty-six community beds on Oahu. The need for more space to reach more female offenders is crucial.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to support community-based reintegration programs for female offenders transitioning from prison back into the community.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to support community-based reintegration programs for female offenders transitioning from prison back into the community.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.