Hawaii-2011-SCR64-Amended

WHEREAS, many correctional jurisdictions in the United States use an incentive system that rewards inmates for positive behavior, commonly known as credit for good time served; and

WHEREAS, an earned time credit system was first implemented in the eighteenth century to relieve overcrowding, reward inmates who have no behavioral infractions, and encourage participation in inmate rehabilitation programs; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii does not have an earned time program incentive to provide eligibility for parole of an inmate before the expiration of that inmate's maximum sentence imposed by the court; and

WHEREAS, an earned time program provides for the opportunity for an inmate to earn a credit against their maximum sentence through demonstrating progress toward satisfactory rehabilitation; and

WHEREAS, an earned time program is necessary for inmates to have a sense of accomplishment and achievement, both of which are critical to successful rehabilitation and re-entry into the community; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Public Safety is requested to:

(1) Review statutory provisions relating to sentences of imprisonment and mandatory imprisonment sentences;

(2) Plan and implement an earned time program as described in this measure for committed persons who have been sentenced for longer than one year and who have successfully completed the recommended programming while incarcerated; and

(3) Make recommendations to the Legislature on suggested legislation to enable an earned time program to be implemented; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Public Safety's plan for the earned time program include developing, establishing, and implementing the following standards and procedures for the earned time program:

(1) Objective standards for measuring progress in each of the following categories, to the extent that the services are available at the committed person's correctional facility:

(A) Work, vocational, or occupational training and skills, including consideration of factors such as attendance, promptness, performance, cooperation, care of materials, and safety;

(B) Social adjustment, including skills such as group living, housekeeping, personal hygiene, and cooperation;

(D) Therapeutic and other similar departmental programs; and

(E) Education or literacy programs;

(2) Procedures for evaluating, recording, and certifying progress under the earned time program; and

(3) Procedures for awarding earned time credits and recording and applying days earned under the earned time program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Public Safety annually review the performance of each person committed to its custody to date and grant, withhold, withdraw, or restore an earned time credit from the person's maximum term of imprisonment; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following information about the earned time program be made available in writing to all eligible committed persons upon request:

(1) Departmental standards and procedures for the earned time program; and

(2) Equivalencies between:

(A) Days served in accordance with earned time program requirements and credits earned; and

(B) Credits earned and days earned; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Public Safety:

(1) Describe its progress in implementing an earned time program in its Re-Entry Master Plan; and

(2) Report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012 on its progress in establishing and implementing an earned time program consistent with this measure; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Public Safety and Administrator of the Hawaii Paroling Authority.

Report Title:

Public Safety; Earned Time Program

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	64
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII