STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1156

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 26

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. 26 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, IN PLANNING AND DESIGNING THE NEW OAHU COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN HALAWA, TO INCLUDE CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURT FACILITIES AND ESTABLISH A RELEASE PROCEDURE UNDER WHICH DETAINEES OR INMATES, UPON RELEASE, ARE TRANSPORTED TO A SITE OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES OR PUBLIC SPACES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in planning and designing the new Oahu Community Correctional Center in Halawa:

(1) Include circuit and district court facilities; and

(2) Establish a release procedure under which detainees or inmates, upon release, are transported to a site other than residential communities or public spaces.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary and Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is currently in the planning and design stage of the new Oahu Community Correctional Center in Halawa. Your Committee further finds that concerns have been raised regarding the location of the new facility from the courts and its possible impact on public safety to the surrounding communities. Establishment of procedures by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for releasing persons in custody into sites other than residential communities and public spaces, along with the implementation of an on-site courtroom for the new correctional facility being built in Halawa, would present a transformative opportunity to enhance public safety, security, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in the judicial and correctional systems.

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. 26 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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