STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1461

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 126

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 S.C.R. No. 126 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION TO INCREMENTALLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INMATES INCARCERATED IN PRIVATE, OUT-OF-STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to incrementally and systematically reduce the number of inmates incarcerated in private, out-of-state correctional facilities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, Office of the Public Defender, and ACLU Hawaiʻi.

Your Committee finds that when individuals are incarcerated out of state, the financial and logistical burdens on families, such as the cost of travel, time off work, and lodging, often render in-person visitation impossible. This forced separation exacerbates emotional distress, weakens family bonds, and deprives individuals of a key stabilizing force necessary for their successful reintegration. Research consistently shows that individuals who sustain familial relationships during incarceration experience lower recidivism rates and better post‑release outcomes. Accordingly, this measure requests the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to initiate an appropriate plan to reduce the number of incarcerated people from the State being housed on the mainland in private correctional facilities.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 126 and recommends its adoption.

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

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BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair