HI HB2044

Expands Hawaii's offender reentry program to include six new model components: high school equivalency programs with mentors, college encouragement programs, career training focused on job prospects, job placement partnerships with nonprofits and businesses, emotional/academic/behavioral counseling tied to parole recommendations, and paid supervised apprenticeship programs.

Hawaii's prison population increased 870% between 1980 and 2018, with Native Hawaiians comprising 40% of inmates despite being only 20% of the state population.

Nearly 54% of Hawaii criminals are repeat offenders, and incarcerating one inmate costs the state approximately $72,000 per year.

Research shows mentored inmates are more than twice as likely to find employment after release and 35% less likely to recidivate within one year compared to non-mentored inmates.

Appropriates an unspecified sum for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to expand educational and vocational training programs for inmates.