THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	19
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the department of public safety to adopt policies to prevent the transfer of incarcerated parents of minor children to correctional facilities on the mainland.

     WHEREAS, during the 1990s, the number of incarcerated parents in the United States grew by approximately fifty‑nine per cent; and

     WHEREAS, currently, there is no means of determining the exact number of incarcerated individuals with minor children in Hawaii as no procedure is in place for collecting such data; and

     WHEREAS, it is estimated, however, that there are approximately 3,163 parents of 6,665 children in Hawaii's prison system; and

     WHEREAS, approximately half of Hawaii's incarcerated felons are sent to private correctional facilities on the mainland making it difficult for them to maintain contact with their families; and

     WHEREAS, an increased focus needs to be placed on the children of incarcerated parents to maintain a parent-child bond; and

     WHEREAS, studies indicate that the children of incarcerated individuals suffer from a multitude of negative consequences, including possible displacement from their home and separation from their primary or secondary caregiver; and

     WHEREAS, as a result, these children experience strong emotional reactions to the incarceration and disruption in their home life, leading to a significant increase, up to six times more likely, of becoming involved in the criminal justice system themselves; and

     WHEREAS, state policies contribute to the breakdown of the family by failing to facilitate the continued relationship between incarcerated individuals and their children when the relationship is in the best interests of the child; and

     WHEREAS, denial of visitation is a means of punishment or discipline of the incarcerated individuals, but those who truly suffer are the children; and

     WHEREAS, the strengthening of family relationships has a positive effect on recidivism as studies have shown it lessens the possibility of future incarceration after an inmate's release from a correctional facility; and

     WHEREAS, studies have also shown that therapeutic involvement with families during incarceration builds better and stronger relationships between the incarcerated parent's children and the incarcerated parent once the parent is released; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety should adopt policies to prevent the transfer of Hawaii's incarcerated parents of minor children to correctional facilities on the mainland; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Public Safety is requested to adopt policies to prevent the transfer of Hawaii's incarcerated parents of minor children to correctional facilities on the mainland; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Interim Director of Public Safety.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Public Safety; Incarcerated Parents