Report Title:

Public Safety; Women Prisoners on the Mainland; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the department of public safety to develop a plan by January 1, 2008, to return all female Hawaii prisoners incarcerated in mainland prisons back to Oahu by July 1, 2009.

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

917

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

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.  The legislature finds that there are approximately 174 women prisoners of the State of Hawaii incarcerated in mainland prisons.  Many of these women are parents and are incarcerated at the minimum security level.

     The increased likelihood of children of incarcerated parents to be high-risk for problems including physical and mental problems, aggression, and criminal activity has been documented in numerous studies by institutions including the Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents, the Child Welfare League of America, and the Federal Resource Center for Children of Prisoners.

     The legislature further finds that the children of prisoners incarcerated on the mainland have an even higher risk of becoming troubled due to the geographical separation which precludes regular visits between parent and child and limits access to support services. 

     The purpose of this Act is to create a plan to return all female prisoners of Hawaii incarcerated on the mainland to Hawaii by July 1, 2009.

     SECTION 2.  The department of public safety shall develop a plan, to be completed by January 1, 2008, to return all Hawaii female prisoners who have been sent to the mainland for incarceration to the State of Hawaii by July 1, 2009.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, for the development of the plan described in section 2.

     The sum 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:

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