STAND. COM. REP. NO. 167

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 911

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred S.B. No. 911 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PRISONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to remedy the overcrowding problem at Hawaii's minimum security prisons, Waiawa Correctional Facility and Kulani Correctional Facility.

     Specifically, this measure requires the Department of Public Safety to undertake a feasibility study for three locations for additional minimum security prisons.  This study is to be completed by December 15, 2007, and a report to the Legislature is due no later than January 1, 2008.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Public Safety, the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, and one individual.  The Community Alliance on Prisons submitted concerns.

     Your Committee finds that low-risk, non-violent offenders are over crowding our prisons, taking up space needed for high-risk offenders.  Minimum security environments are quite different from high-risk facility environments and are more conducive to rehabilitation needs of low-risk offenders.  Furthermore, it is important to keep the low-risk offenders separated from the high-risk offenders to prevent negative influences and an increased likelihood of recidivism. 

     Your Committee further finds that Hawaii has outgrown its minimum security facility capacity and is in great need of additional minimum security space.  This need has been confirmed by the Department of Public Safety's 2004 Annual Report which found forty-one per cent of male and forty-four per cent of female inmates fall into the minimum security of community custody level of security needs.

     Your Committee further finds that a study of the feasibility of locating three additional minimum security facilities is greatly needed and should be able to be completed within the time allotted by this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 911 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair