STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1424

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 117

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 117 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY-BASED WORK FURLOUGH PROGRAMS TO ASSIST FEMALE INMATES TRANSITION BACK INTO SOCIETY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage the continuation and expansion of community-based work furlough programs to help female inmates transition back into society.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and seven individuals.

     Your Committees find that supporting the expanded use of alternatives to incarceration is essential for promoting public welfare and reforming the State's correctional system.  The expanded use of alternatives to incarceration is particularly important for the State's population of female inmates.  The majority of female inmates are nonviolent offenders who do not pose a threat to the community, are mothers whose incarceration threatens the integrity of the family unit, or are re-incarcerated if they do not receive proper support during their transition back into society.

     Your Committees further find that community-based work furlough programs can be an effective means of transitioning inmates back into society, help reduce incarceration costs, reduce recidivism, and create safer communities.  This measure helps community-based work furlough programs continue to help female inmates transition back into society and expand program services to more female inmates.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 117 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means,

________________________________ JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair

________________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair