Report Title:

Inmate Rehabilitation; Reentry; Performance Indicators

Description:

Requires the department of public safety to establish performance indicators to ensure that the department is in compliance with the Community Safety Act of 2007.  Requires monthly reports to the legislature, using key performance indicators, such as inmate drug test failure rates, educational goals achieved, reentry plans, post-incarceration employment, victim restitution paid, and recidivism rates.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2344
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to public safety.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1.  Act 8, First Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, also known as the Community Safety Act of 2007, established a comprehensive inmate reentry system under the purview of the department of public safety.  Act 8 also requires the department of public safety to submit a number of annual reports relating to the implementation, progress, and effectiveness of the program components specified in Act 8.

While the department's annual report lists program activities and statistics, it does not include information on program outcomes.  The legislature finds that performance indicators are an effective way to track the progress of the comprehensive reentry system and to reflect the philosophical change to the department's approach to rehabilitation and reentry mandated by Act 8.

     The purpose of this Act is to direct the department of public safety to establish key performance indicators to be incorporated in reports that evaluate the outcomes of program components as required in Act 8.

     SECTION 2.  Act 8, Session Laws of Hawaii, First Special Session of 2007, is amended by amending section 21 to read as follows:

     "SECTION 21.  The department of public safety shall report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2008, 2009, and 2010 regular legislation sessions on the implementation, progress, and effectiveness of the components of this measure.  Beginning in fiscal year 2008-2009, in addition to the annual reports, the department shall submit a monthly report to the legislature on the last working day of each month.  Each report shall include key performance indicators that track rehabilitation and reentry efforts for individuals being prepared to exit the correctional system.

The key performance indicators in the monthly reports shall include, but not be limited to various outcomes measures, such as:

(1) The number of individuals achieving educational goals, such as completing general education diploma requirements and basic and higher education classes;

(2) The number of individuals for whom a reentry plan is filed and the number of individuals who exit jail or prison with a reentry plan;

(3) Drug test failure rates of inmates while incarcerated and while on parole;

(4) Rates at which victim restitution and other financial obligations are being collected;

(5) Employment rates of ex-offenders for whom a re-entry plan has been filed;

(6) Recidivism rates, with separate data for arrests for new crimes and violations of the conditions of parole; and

(7) Any other performance indicators that measure outcomes of the program components specified in Act 8.

The department shall make the performance indicators and monthly reports available to the public through the Internet on the department's website in a timely manner."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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