HI HB1487

Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to contract with a nationally respected consulting firm to study disparate treatment of Native Hawaiians and other ethnic groups in Hawaii's criminal justice system.

Study must examine conviction rates, sentencing outcomes, and data from arrest through parole and recidivism rates, as well as causes of disparities including sentencing policies and drug laws.

Study must identify barriers that disparate treatment poses to preventing recidivism and facilitating offenders' successful re-entry into the community.

All government agencies involved in the criminal justice system must provide full cooperation and relevant data to support the study.

Appropriates $15,000 for fiscal years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, contingent on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs providing matching funds; findings and recommendations due to the legislature by twenty days before the 2010 regular session.