HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

737

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to recidivism reduction.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that post-incarceration employment is strongly associated with a reduction in recidivism, or the rate at which offenders return to prison for committing new crimes after their release into the community.  The legislature further finds that taking actions aimed at lowering recidivism rates also has the effect of reducing burdens on taxpayers.  This effect is due to the relationship between lower recidivism rates, fewer incarcerated individuals, and safer communities that experience less crime.

     The purpose of this Act is to help reduce recidivism, facilitate post-incarceration employment, and incentivize increased compliance with parole by authorizing the Hawaii paroling authority to award credits to parolees for compliance with the terms and conditions of parole supervision that accordingly reduce the overall term of parole supervision.

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

     "§353-     Credit for parole compliance; how earned.  (a)  A parolee may be eligible to earn credits for compliance with the terms and conditions of parole supervision that accordingly reduce the overall term of parole supervision, as follows:

     (1)  For each calendar month that the parolee complies with the terms and conditions of parole supervision, the Hawaii paroling authority may award the parolee with earned credits equal to thirty calendar days to be applied toward a reduction of the parole supervision period; and

     (2)  As used in this subsection, "compliance" means the absence of a violation report submitted by a parole officer during the relevant calendar month.

     (b)  The paroling authority may develop written policies and procedures necessary for the implementation of earned credits as authorized pursuant to this section.  The policies and procedures may include written guidelines relating to:

     (1)  The process of earning credits and the application of credits toward the reduction of the term of parole supervision; and

     (2)  The collection of data pertaining to parolees who earn credit, the amount of credit earned and applied, and the amount of time by which parole supervision periods are reduced.

     (c)  The paroling authority may maintain a record of credits earned by a parolee under this section.  At least every six months from the date the parolee is placed on parole supervision, the paroling authority may notify the parolee of the current anticipated parole supervision termination date."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Hawaii Paroling Authority; Prisoners; Parole; Compliance Credits

 

Description:

Authorizes the Hawaii paroling authority to award credits to parolees for compliance with the terms and conditions of parole supervision that accordingly reduce the overall term of parole supervision.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.