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THE SENATE |
S.R. NO. |
95 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE RESOLUTION
AFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR THE CONCEPT OF ESTABLISHING A BIG ISLAND JUVENILE INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT CENTER.
WHEREAS, authorities that detain juveniles on the island of Hawaii for legal infractions or other criminal violations have limited options on where to hold the juvenile in custody after the point of arrest; and
WHEREAS, law enforcement officers are in need of a facility to house and hold juvenile offenders in a safe and secure manner that consequently allows the law enforcement officers to proceed with their patrol duties; and
WHEREAS, numerous County of Hawaii agencies have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement for mandatory participation in establishing a Big Island Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center that is dedicated solely to servicing at-risk and delinquent juveniles and their families; and
WHEREAS, a Big Island Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center would provide temporary non-police supervision to arrested juveniles who cannot be returned to their homes because of drug, alcohol, or mental health problems, or family issues; and
WHEREAS, in 2006 there were over 2,350 juveniles arrested on the island of Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, various stakeholders and supporters of a Big Island Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center have already completed a thorough business plan that identifies the necessary startup and annual operating costs for the Center; and
WHEREAS, the various stakeholders, supporters, and County of Hawaii agencies are ready to move forward with a pilot program at a facility in Pahoa that can be implemented at less than a third of the cost of the comprehensive Big Island Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center initiative; and
WHEREAS, the Big Island Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center will focus on new prevention and intervention strategies that utilize numerous County of Hawaii agencies in treating and servicing juvenile offenders; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, that the Legislature affirms the need to establish a Big Island Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center and encourages the stakeholders to build upon the initiatives and momentum created by numerous County of Hawaii agencies in developing the concept for a Big Island Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center, including the pilot program in Pahoa; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that although current economic constraints prevent the State from appropriating funding at this time to establish a Big Island Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center, the Legislature affirms its present and future support of continued efforts to establish and develop a Big Island Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Mayor of Hawaii County, Chair of the Board of Education, Director of Health, Director of Human Services, the Probation Office of the Third Circuit Judicial District, the County of Hawaii Police Department, the County of Hawaii Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, and the County of Hawaii Office of the Public Defender.
Big Island Juvenile Intake Assessment Center; BIJIAC; Program