Bill Text: HI HR20 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Encouraging the Department of Public Safety and the University of Hawaii to Create a New Program for the Certification of Adult Correction Officers

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-11 - Referred to PBS, HED, referral sheet 20 [HR20 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-HR20-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	20
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

ENCOURAGING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM TO ADDRESS the SHORTAGE OF HIGHLY EDUCATED AND QUALIFIED ADULT CORRECTIONS OFFICERS.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, adult corrections officers are tasked with the essential responsibility of enforcing the rules and procedures in Hawaii's prisons, while ultimately ensuring public safety; and

 

WHEREAS, adult corrections officers are required to complete Basic Corrections Training, which includes four hundred forty hours of classroom time and physical training, suicide monitoring and prevention, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and crisis intervention for incarcerated individuals; and

 

     WHEREAS, the number of adult corrections officers employed by the Department of Public Safety is disproportionately small compared to the increasing number of prisoners, resulting in staff shortages that can create an unsafe environment for both correctional staff as well as prison inmates; and

 

     WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii system currently offers programs that educate students on all aspects of administration of justice, including crime detection, corrections, and forensics, that help the students enrolled in that program to prepare for careers in law enforcement; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety has recently revamped its training methods to include psychological and competency assessments in order to attract highly qualified and competent individuals; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature strongly supports the recruitment of highly qualified individuals to become employed as adult corrections officers; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, that the Department of Public Safety in collaboration with the University of Hawaii is strongly encouraged to develop and implement an educational pathway for students currently enrolled in the administration of justice programs offered throughout the University of Hawaii system that will prepare students to succeed in careers as adult corrections officers; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawaii community colleges are requested to focus on providing instruction and curricula that provide administration of justice students with the skills necessary to become the type of adult corrections officer with the Department of Public Safety that can meet the demanding challenges presented by Hawaii's prison population; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Public Safety and the President of the University of Hawaii.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Encouraging the Department of Public Safety and the University of Hawaii to Create a New Program for the Certification of Adult Correction Officers