HB919

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	919
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, according to the department of public safety, Hawaii parolees incarcerated in the State had a deplorable recidivism rate of between forty-seven and fifty-seven per cent. The recidivism rate for inmates who were housed at out-of-state facilities was even higher, ranging from fifty to seventy-eight per cent. A promising approach to reducing recidivism and helping inmates make the successful transition from prison to the community is to establish a cognitive restructuring and transition program at correctional facilities statewide.

Cognitive restructuring is based on the principle that thinking, an internal behavior, controls overt actions, an external behavior. Cognitive restructuring focuses on the way thoughts and beliefs drive a person's behavior. A cognitive restructuring program for inmates involves self-examination of their belief system, criminal addictive cycle, attitudes and thinking patterns, and develops a relapse prevention plan for future situations. The program assists offenders in "restructuring" their thought process and teaches cognitive skills that help them with basic decision-making and problem-solving. The goal of cognitive restructuring is to guide offenders to consciously examine their own thoughts by engaging in processes that develop self control, thus making them responsible for, and in charge of, their actions no matter how stressful the situation.

The legislature further finds that transition programs prepare an inmate to make a successful transition from prison to the community by assisting them with skills to find housing, prepare for employment, learn money management, and obtain support from other resources to become productive, law-abiding citizens.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to establish cognitive restructuring and transition programs to help inmates achieve a successful transition into the community.

SECTION 2. The cognitive restructuring and transition programs shall teach specific skills that include problem solving, social skills training, anger management, and empathy training.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $210,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to establish cognitive restructuring and transition programs at correctional facilities statewide.

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, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________