Bill Text: HI SB2025 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Parole; Final Discharge
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-03-11 - (H) The committee(s) recommends that the measure be deferred. [SB2025 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2010-SB2025-Amended.html
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2060
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2025
S.D. 1
Honorable Colleen Hanabusa
President of the Senate
Twenty-Fifth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2010
State of Hawaii
Madam:
Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2025 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PAROLE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Repeal the provision requiring annual review by the Hawaii Paroling Authority of paroled prisoners who are not granted a final discharge and full pardon;
(2) Repeal the provision allowing a paroled prisoner who enters into military service of the United States to petition for final discharge from parole based on an honorable discharge from the military; and
(3) Allow, rather than require, additional hearings at twelve-month intervals or less until parole is granted, if parole is not granted to an inmate at the inmate's initial parole hearing.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one government entity. Testimony in opposition was received from three private entities and eight individuals. Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.
According to testimony of the Hawaii Paroling Authority, the intent of this measure is to update current law and to streamline the workload for staff at the Hawaii Paroling Authority.
Your Committee understands that there are currently practices in place to address early discharge consideration for parolees that have displayed a positive adjustment to parole supervision in the community. However, your Committee finds that the Hawaii Paroling Authority should ensure that inmates appropriate for release are timely reviewed and not incarcerated for longer than is necessary. Retaining the statutory requirement that requires a parole hearing every twelve months or less for inmates who have been denied parole at their initial parole hearing will ensure timely and regular review. This will provide inmates with the incentive to continue working on their rehabilitation and reentry into the community. It will also help to ensure that prison space is reserved for those who require it, which is especially important in times of state budgetary crisis.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by retaining the requirement for mandatory annual hearings to determine if parole is to be granted, if parole was not granted, to an inmate at the inmate's initial parole hearing.
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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2025, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2025, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,
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____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair |
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