STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2689

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2253

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2253 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORRECTIONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to reduce crime and recidivism by requiring the Department of Public Safety to establish a Hawaii's opportunity parole with enforcement pilot program based upon the Judiciary's Hawaii's opportunity probation with enforcement program.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Community Alliance on Prisons, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Judiciary's Hawaii's opportunity probation with enforcement program has been highly successful at reducing crime and drug abuse among participants, including those in the high recidivist groups of methamphetamine abusers and domestic violence offenders.  Requiring the Department of Public Safety to establish a similar pilot program that applies the same principles, including random drug testing, and swift, short terms of incarceration for parolees who test positive for drugs or who fail to appear for a parole appointment, will result in similar reduction of prison days served and increased integration within society for parolees.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2253 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

		____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair