SB2353 SD1

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a disproportionately high rate of arrest and incarceration amongst young men and women of native Hawaiian ancestry. It is estimated that over two thousand persons of native Hawaiian ancestry are incarcerated and that seventy per cent of those persons are between the ages of twenty and forty.

The legislature also finds that a promising approach to reducing recidivism and helping inmates make the successful transition from prison to the community is through establishing cognitive restructuring and transition programs at correctional facilities. Those reintegration programs involve the self-examination of an inmate's belief system, criminal addictive cycle, attitude, and thinking patterns, and they also develop a relapse prevention plan for future situations. Essentially, the program assists offenders with restructuring their thought processes and teaches them cognitive skills that help with basic decision-making and problem-solving. The goal of cognitive restructuring is to guide offenders to consciously examine their decision-making processes through developing self control, thus making them responsible for, and in charge of, their actions no matter how stressful the situation. When combined with strategies that help native Hawaiian inmates get back in touch with the values of their culture; cognitive rehabilitation can help break the vicious cycle of crime and punishment as knowledge of native Hawaiian traditions and cultural values have helped many cope with social challenges.

The purpose of this Act is to extend the ability of department of public safety to expend existing monies and also to provide additional funding to establish pilot reintegration programs within correctional facilities located in the county of Hawaii. The reintegration programs will analyze cognitive behavioral theories with native Hawaiian holistic interventions to address domestic violence, addictions, self mastery through identity, and community connections for successful transitions back into the community.

SECTION 2. Act 3, First Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, is amended by amending section 20 to read as follows:

"SECTION 20. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $33,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year [~~2007-2008~~] 2008-2009 for a cognitive restructuring pilot program to be established in the county of Hawaii at Kulani correctional facility, Hawaii community correctional center, and Hale Nani reintegration center.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of public safety for the purposes of this part."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to establish cognitive restructuring programs that use native Hawaiian holistic methods in the county of Hawaii at the Kulani correctional facility, Hawaii community correctional center, and Hale Nani reintegration center.

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

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008; provided that section 2 shall take effect on June 29, 2008.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2353
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII