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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
185 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE 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 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, the Hawaii Paroling Authority 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 the Hawaii Paroling Authority in particular cases have occasionally raised questions about the rationale for the agency's existence or its effectiveness; and
WHEREAS, the decisions made by the Hawaii Paroling Authority in releasing offenders into the community significantly affect the safety and welfare of the public; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to examine the rationale for the creation of the Hawaii Paroling Authority 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 the Hawaii Paroling Authority were intended to solve;
(2) The objectives that the legislation establishing the Hawaii Paroling Authority 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 the Hawaii Paroling Authority; and
(6) The effectiveness and accountability with which staff of the Hawaii Paroling Authority are managed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature at least twenty days prior to 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 the Hawaii Paroling Authority, and the Auditor.
Hawaii Paroling Authority; Management Audit