STAND. COM. REP. NO. 462

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 513

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 513, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Director of the Department of Public Safety

 

G.M. No. 513

JODIE MAESAKA-HIRATA,

for a term to expire December 1, 2014,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Jodie Maesaka-Hirata from Governor Neil Abercrombie; Department of Public Safety; Hawaii Paroling Authority; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu; Radcliff & Associates, LLC; United Public Workers; S&B Foods Hawaii, Inc.; Hina Makua; Women in Need; National Association of Reformed Criminals; and sixty-seven individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition from two individuals.

 

     Jodie Maesaka-Hirata has been the Acting Warden of the Waiawa Correctional Facility since January, 2008.  As Acting Warden, she oversees the direction, control, coordination, and general management of the Waiawa Correctional Facility which houses adult male offenders.  Her duties include budget development, planning, staffing organization, coordination of activities, evaluation of programs, and reporting on results and achievements.  As a Warden, she is responsible for the custody, rehabilitation, and redirection of inmates; prevention of escape; facility operations and maintenance of infrastructure; and daily functioning of re‑entry programs.

 

     The nominee received a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Masters in Criminal Justice Administration from Chaminade University of Honolulu.  She began her career with the Department of Public Safety as a Case Manager at the Oahu Community Correctional Center in 1989, moved to the central office in 1994 to serve as the statewide Volunteer Services Officer, was promoted to the position of Community-Based Administrator at the Oahu Community Correctional Center in 2002, then was asked to become the Acting Waiawa Correctional Facility Warden in January 2008.

 

     As the Warden at Waiawa, the nominee has effectively and efficiently carried out her duties, while boosting the morale of the staff and enhancing re-entry programs to promote Waiawa inmates' successful transition into the community.  In addition, she has fostered a very positive partnership with the Hawaii Government Employees Association and the United Public Workers, which is essential for maintaining good management-employee relationships.

 

     Based on testimony received, your Committee believes that Jodie Maesaka-Hirata is well-qualified for the position of Director of Public Safety.  With her knowledge and experience in re-entry programs, her appointment is especially apropos at this time when the Administration is planning to return Mainland-housed inmates to Hawaii.  From testimony on another measure that has been heard by your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, the nominee agrees that a corrections master plan is necessary, based on the corrections principles of inmate classification, facilities planning, and rehabilitation programs.

 

     Your Committee notes, among other things, that the nominee intends to pursue accreditation for the Law Enforcement Division of the Department of Public Safety with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, which your Committee supports.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair