HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1056

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to public safety.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that restorative reentry circles is a pilot program that was started at the Waiawa correctional facility in March 2005.  The program is based on the methodological tool known as "restorative justice," which aims to address the unresolved issues confronting victims, offenders, and their families.  The program brings offenders, victims, and their respective personal supporters together in a carefully managed, safe environment.  The process is a powerful healing tool and a way to empower victims to make decisions about how to repair the harm caused by offenses.  Participation in the program is voluntary and available only to those victims who choose to participate, and is available to those inmates who want to reconcile with their victims.

     The legislature further finds that the restorative program begins when an incarcerated person requests a "restorative reentry circle" from that inmate's case worker.  A restorative reentry circle is a group process that requires an impartial, trained, and experienced community facilitator to meet with the inmate.  The facilitator and the inmate start by discussing the program's goals and process, then identify whom the inmate has harmed by the inmate's past behavior and whom the inmate wants to invite for support.  Each restorative reentry circle takes about three hours, with half of the time devoted to reconciliation and the other half devoted to developing a reentry transition plan.  To date, there have been approximately ninety restorative reentry circles with a one hundred per cent satisfaction rate reported by the participating victims, offenders, and prison staff.  This innovative Hawaii pilot program has been highlighted by the Federal Probation Journal, Honolulu Magazine, and KITV News.  The program recently expanded to the women's community correctional center.

     Considering that ninety-five per cent of all inmates will eventually be released back into the community, the legislature finds that a program such as this one is vital because it helps an offender take responsibility for past behavior and plan for release.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to expand the restorative reentry circle pilot program to correctional facilities statewide and require the Department of Public Safety to contract with a health and human services provider to establish restorative reentry circles programs in correctional facilities statewide.

     SECTION 2.  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 2013-2014 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the expansion of the restorative reentry circles pilot program to correctional facilities statewide.

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

     SECTION 3.  The department of public safety shall contract with a health and human services provider to establish restorative reentry circles programs in correctional facilities statewide.  The contract shall be executed in accordance with chapter 103F, Hawaii Revised Statutes.


     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2013; provided that the department of public safety shall contract a health and human services provider pursuant to section 3 of this Act no later than January 1, 2014.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Public Safety; Restorative Reentry Circles Program; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to expand the restorative reentry circles pilot program to correctional facilities statewide.

 

 

 

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