Report Title:

Public Safety; Women Prisoners; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the department of public safety to develop a plan by January 1, 2009, to provide facilities and services to returning female Hawaii prisoners.  (CD1)

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2082
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1
		C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that approximately one hundred seventy-five female prisoners who are residents of the State of Hawaii are incarcerated in mainland prisons.  Many of these women are parents.

     The increased likelihood of children of incarcerated parents being at high risk for physical and mental problems, aggression, and criminal activity has been documented in numerous studies by various institutions, including the Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents, the Child Welfare League of America, and the Federal Resource Center for Children of Prisoners.

     The legislature further finds that the children of Hawaii prisoners incarcerated on the mainland have an even higher risk of becoming troubled due to the geographical separation that precludes regular visits between parent and child and limits access to support services.

     The legislature further finds that the current contract for incarcerating female prisoners, who are residents of Hawaii, on the mainland expires in October 2008.  The near-term expiration of this contract provides an opportunity for the department of public safety to review what additional facilities and programs must be in place to adequately house and rehabilitate female prisoners upon their return to Hawaii.

     The purpose of this Act is to create a strategic plan to provide services to the State's female prisoners who are incarcerated on the mainland and who will be returning to Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  The department of public safety shall develop a strategic plan by January 1, 2009, to provide female prisoners returning to Hawaii adequate:

(1)  Housing;

(2)  Community supervision;

(3)  Medical care;

(4)  Drug treatment;

(5)  Reintegration programs;

(6)  Employment training; and

(7)  Transitional services.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the department of public safety to develop a strategic plan to ensure successful reentry into the community of as many female prisoners as possible who are returning from incarceration on the mainland and who are residents of the State of Hawaii.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.