STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1342-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.R. No. 139

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans, to which was referred H.R. No. 139 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE WOMEN'S CORRECTIONS IMPLEMENTATION COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF WOMEN INCARCERATED AT THE WOMEN'S COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER BY TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the Women's Corrections Implementation Commission develop a strategy and make recommendations to reduce the number of women incarcerated at the Women's Community Correctional Center by twenty-five percent by 2029.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Tahirih Association BEYOND BARS Reentry Program; and five individuals.

Your Committee finds that the State has failed to divert women from the criminal justice system and that the population of incarcerated women at the Women's Community Correctional Center has increased by nine hundred fifty percent since 1978. This measure requests that the Women's Corrections Implementation Commission develop a strategy and make recommendations to reduce the number of women incarcerated at the Women's Community Correctional Center by twenty-five percent by 2029.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 139 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair