STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1491

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 35

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.R. No. 35, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE ESTABLISHMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A STAND-ALONE REENTRY CENTER IN HONOLULU FOR RECOVERING LOW-RISK CRIMINAL OFFENDERS, WHICH MAY INCLUDE RESIDENTIAL AND DAY-REPORTING PROGRAM OPTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to help persons seamlessly transition from incarceration to the general population.

More specifically, this measure encourages the Department of Public Safety to seriously consider the establishment and implementation of a stand-alone reentry center in Honolulu for recovering low-risk criminal offenders, which may include residential and day-reporting program options.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Community Alliance on Prisons.

     Your Committee finds that reentry centers house offenders in transitional environments while they learn to reengage with the community, find employment, and become familiar with the social services that will allow them to regain law-abiding and productive lifestyles.  Further, reentry centers reduce the recidivism rate and are significantly more cost-effective than traditional incarceration.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 35, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair