HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	252
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the state auditor to examine the rationale and management of the hawaii paroling authority.

     WHEREAS, parole provides an opportunity for a convicted felon to serve a portion of his or her sentence in the community as long as the offender abides by certain conditions; and

     WHEREAS, the concept of parole has been a controversial one ever since it was effectuated in Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Paroling Authority (HPA) is an agency administratively attached to the Department of Public Safety and is run by a three-person board, with a full-time chairperson and two part-time members; and

     WHEREAS, HPA is responsible for setting the minimum terms that convicted offenders must serve before being considered for release on parole if those minimum terms have not been set by the courts; and

     WHEREAS, the decisions made by HPA in particular cases have occasionally raised questions about the rationale for the agency's existence or its effectiveness; and

     WHEREAS, the decisions made by HPA in releasing offenders into the community significantly affect the safety and welfare of the public; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the Senate concurring, that the Auditor is requested to examine the rationale for the creation of HPA and audit the management and programs of the agency; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the examination and audit include, at a minimum:

     (1)  The problems that the establishment of HPA were intended to solve;

     (2)  The objectives that the legislation establishing HPA sought to achieve;

     (3)  An estimate of how successfully those objectives have been met;

     (4)  A comparison with other jurisdictions' approach to the same problems;

     (5)  The efficacy of the board of HPA; and

     (6)  The effectiveness and accountability with which staff of HPA are managed;

and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor submit a report of findings and recommendations at least 20 days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2010; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Public Safety, the chair of HPA, and the Auditor.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

Hawaii Paroling Authority; Management Audit