Hawaii Senate Bill SR134

Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/10/23
• Refer: 3/15/23

Caption

Requesting Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Assist The State In Negotiating With The Federal Government For The Acquisition Of The Federal Detention Center In Honolulu.

Impact

The acquisition of the Federal Detention Center is projected to be a solution to Hawaii's overcrowded correctional facilities, which were originally designed to accommodate 2,491 inmates yet currently hold 3,527. The state has previously leased space in the detention center to alleviate overcrowding, which indicates a practical need for this negotiation. By acquiring this facility, Hawaii could mitigate the immediate financial burden of needing to construct a new correctional facility, which is estimated to cost up to $2 billion.

Summary

Senate Resolution 134 (SR134) requests the assistance of Hawaii's congressional delegation in negotiating with the federal government for the acquisition of the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu. This facility, opened in 2001, currently houses various types of inmates, including pre-trial detainees and those serving short sentences. With a significant amount of its capacity remaining unused, the resolution outlines a strategic move to address Hawaii's long-standing issue of overcrowded prisons and jails, which currently exceed their designed capacity by over a thousand inmates.

Contention

The resolution emphasizes the necessity of ensuring that federal pre-trial detainees and federal inmates are still housed at the facility under terms that are favorable to the federal Bureau of Prisons. This stipulation raises questions about the future management of the facility and whether it will align with Hawaii's broader criminal justice reform goals. Additionally, the topic has seen prior legislative interest dating back to 2016, suggesting ongoing discussions about the state's correctional strategies and their implications on local governance.