Hawaii Senate Bill SR18

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/4/25
• Refer: 3/11/25
• Report Pass: 4/1/25
• Passed: 4/2/25

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation To Collaborate With The Department Of Transportation To Use Inmate Work Furlough Programs For State Roadway And Highway Maintenance.

Impact

By enabling inmates to participate in work furlough programs, the resolution is expected to provide them with valuable skills and work experience, facilitating smoother transitions back into society post-release. This approach not only aims to lower recidivism rates by offering meaningful employment opportunities to inmates but also addresses public safety concerns by ensuring that roadways are adequately maintained. The collaboration between the two departments is seen as beneficial both for inmates and state infrastructure.

Summary

Senate Resolution 18 (SR18) requests the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to collaborate with the Department of Transportation to utilize inmate work furlough programs for state roadway and highway maintenance. This initiative aims to enhance rehabilitation opportunities for inmates while addressing the critical need for a robust workforce to maintain roadways across the state. The resolution highlights the importance of work preparation and career development programs as essential factors in reducing recidivism rates, which have become a significant issue in Hawaii, with rates exceeding fifty percent as noted in a prior study on prison reform.

Contention

Notably, SR18 reflects broader discussions around the use of inmate labor for public projects, which can sometimes be contentious. Supporters advocate for the rehabilitative potential of such programs, arguing they help inmates reintegrate successfully, while critics may raise concerns about the exploitation of inmate labor and its ethical implications. Nonetheless, the resolution serves to align state resources towards dual objectives of rehabilitation and public service enhancement.