Report Title:

Prison Work Furlough; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a prison work furlough program to provide job training, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society of eligible incarcerated persons; establishes a prison work release program to provide employment training for inmates; makes appropriation to expand programs.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

782

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the department of public safety conducts a work furlough program for incarcerated persons. The purpose of the work furlough program is to provide re-integration services to inmates as they make the transition from incarceration to parole or discharge. The work furlough program affords inmates the opportunity to become gainfully employed upon release by acclimation into the community, generation of income, development of good work habits, and provision of treatment services such as substance abuse and mental health treatment.

The legislature further finds that, although a work furlough program has been created administratively, existing law does not specifically require the department of public safety to provide a work furlough program. Current law establishes conditional release centers for this purpose in section 353-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which provide housing, meals, supervision, guidance, furloughs, and other correctional programs for inmates. The legislature further finds that the work furlough is a necessary and effective rehabilitation and career training program that should be specifically enacted in statute and expanded to provide work furlough opportunities to more qualified inmates.

The legislature further finds that another program created administratively by the department of public safety is the work release program. The work release program, which is not designed for rehabilitation, allows inmates to perform maintenance work on public property such as state and county parks, roads, facilities, and conservation lands. The program is usually intended for inmates serving short sentences for nonviolent crimes. The legislature believes that the work release program should be enacted in statute and specified to be predominantly for employment training.

The purpose of this Act is to establish the work furlough program and work release program in statute, and to make appropriations for expansion of the programs.

SECTION 2 Chapter 353, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§353- Work furlough program; work release program. (a) There is established a work furlough program to be administered by the department in accordance with policies and procedures established by the department for the program. The program shall include, but not be limited to, providing work and career training, rehabilitation, re-integration services, and employment opportunities for committed persons. The department shall contract with reputable service providers for community beds to accommodate every eligible inmate for the work furlough program, including female populated facilities.

(b) There is established a work release program to be administered by the department at each facility in accordance with policies and procedures established by the department for the program. The program shall have the primary objective of providing employment training by allowing qualified inmates to perform work for the State or a county at public facilities or on public lands outside of the facility and under appropriate supervision. The department shall ensure that the work release program accommodates as many committed persons qualified for the program and desiring to be included in the program as possible. All state and county agencies shall cooperate with the department in providing appropriate jobs under the work release program."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, for expansion of the work furlough program for incarcerated persons, including providing facilities and hiring or contracting personnel.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, for expansion of the work release program.

SECTION 5. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that sections 3 and 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________