THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	125
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the department of public safety to establish an earned-time program that reduces the minimum period of time that inmates must wait to become eligible for parole.

     WHEREAS, many correctional jurisdictions in the United States use an incentive system that rewards inmates for positive behavior while incarcerated; and

     WHEREAS, the rehabilitation of inmates is an important step in the process of enabling the inmates to successfully reenter the community; and

     WHEREAS, an earned-time credit system that would allow inmates to become eligible for parole faster would be a powerful tool in providing an incentive for inmates to behave in a positive manner; and

     WHEREAS, an earned-time credit system that reduces an inmate's waiting period to become eligible for parole would also be an incentive for inmates that do not have any behavioral problems; and

     WHEREAS, an earned-time credit system would encourage inmate participation in rehabilitation programs that assist the inmates in reentering the community; and

     WHEREAS, an earned-time credit system would help to relieve inmate overcrowding; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Public Safety is requested to examine various earned-time programs established under the laws of other states in order to develop an earned-time program for Hawaii inmates incarcerated in Hawaii and on the mainland; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Public Safety is requested to report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for the establishment of an earned-time program to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2009 Regular Session; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor of the State of Hawaii and the Director of Public Safety.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Earned-Time; Parole; Early Parole Eligibility