STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1972

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 619

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 619, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Hawai'i Paroling Authority

G.M. No. 619

JENNIFER MERKLE, for a term to expire 06-30-2028,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Jennifer Merkle for service on the Hawaii Paroling Authority.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Jennifer Merkle from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Hawaii Paroling Authority, and seven individuals.

Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Merkle's experience, background, and knowledge qualify her for appointment to the Hawaii Paroling Authority as a member. Your Committee notes that Ms. Merkle currently works as an independent contractor providing in-house legal advice and consulting for Premier Corrections Consultants, LLC, which she co-founded and co‑owns. She consults on a myriad of issues, including compassionate release, federal sentencing mitigation, federal sentence computation, policy development, and prison management. Ms. Merkle also currently works as an Assistant Professor at Hawaii Pacific University where she developed and taught courses in corrections, criminal law, justice systems, criminal procedure, crime victims and justice, and law enforcement. Ms. Merkle has a diverse and wide-reaching professional background in both the private and government sectors, including experience as an assistant United States Attorney and Senior United States Attorney for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Ms. Merkle currently serves as a parole board member of the Hawaii Paroling Authority, following her interim appointment in May of 2024. She has a thorough understanding of the roles and responsibilities of parole board members, and her honed leadership and managerial skills, discipline, and dedication to public service will continue to be assets to the parole board. Your Committee therefore recommends that Jennifer Merkle be appointed to the Hawaii Paroling Authority based on her compassionate advocacy for marginalized populations, strong work ethic, and extensive experience as an attorney and educator working in the field of criminal justice.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety 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 and Military Affairs,

____________________________

BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair