HI HCR207

Legislature urges the Governor to begin discussions and plans to establish public-private partnerships to build prisons and correctional facilities in Hawaii to address prison overcrowding and return inmates from mainland facilities.

Hawaii currently spends over $50,000,000 annually to incarcerate inmates on the mainland, funds that could be retained in the state economy by building facilities in-state.

Inmates incarcerated on the mainland lack close family and community support for rehabilitation and re-entry efforts, and documented problems have occurred at some mainland facilities including sexual assaults.

Public-private partnerships would allow the state to finance prison construction without up-front funding, with ownership reverting to the state after all payments are completed, potentially using union workers at union wages.

Private sector involvement would create local construction and public safety jobs, provide efficient financing and construction in a favorable bidding environment, and take advantage of low bond interest rates.