Appropriates funds for community placement programs for female offenders transitioning from prison back into the community. (SD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, given the problems associated with re-entry, as well as the high rate of recidivism, of 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 the costs of incarceration can be dramatically reduced through the implementation of programs to assist these individuals' integration into the community.

In recent years, the number of incarcerated women has increased at an alarming rate. Nationally, women comprise between six and seven percent of the total prison population. In Hawaii, however, women make up twelve percent of the prison population, nearly double the national average. The female population mainly consists of nonviolent first-time drug offenders.

Research indicates 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 nonviolent and do not pose a threat to the community. For female offenders who are incarcerated due to 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. Many female offenders will return to prison if their drug and alcohol dependencies are not treated and their recovery is not supported during their transition from prison to the community. 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 help 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. 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 that allow women to overcome obstacles while remaining clean and sober. The need to provide adequate services to reach more female offenders is crucial.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to support community placement services, a key component of the re-entry process. Community placement is the final phase of transitional programming, in which women move from the highly structured living environment of a residential program such as TJ Mahoney, to living independently in the community while continuing to be supported and monitored by program staff. Community placement helps female offenders adjust to greater independence as they transition from more to less structure, resulting in a more integrated, seamless re-socialization and re-entry process.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $146,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for a grant to TJ Mahoney & Associates, for community placement programs that provide support services and assistance to female offenders transitioning from prison to the community.

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

SECTION 4. This Act shall take affect on July 1, 2006.