STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2735

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3126

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 3126 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PRISONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a four-year pilot program to reduce recidivism by providing educational programs and initiatives for inmates; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the pilot program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Office of the Public Defender, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Community Alliance on Prisons, Columbia Business School, Hour Children, Resilience Education, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and thirty-four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Department of Corrections of the Commonwealth of Virginia

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's correctional facilities are currently overcrowded, far exceeding the number of inmates the correctional facilities should house. This has led to the State sending inmates to a private prison located in Arizona. Your Committee further finds that there are approximately five thousand six hundred inmates, costing the State about $52,000 per inmate per year. Your Committee also finds that one reason the State's correctional facilities are overcrowded is due to numerous individuals returning to prison within one year of their release. Your Committee notes that forty-three percent of people who seek and attain education in prison are actually less likely to return to prison. This measure will reduce recidivism by offering educational opportunities to inmates to learn business skills and other trades to ensure a smooth transition back into society.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3126 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair