HI HCR193

Requests establishment of a Court Security and Department of Law Enforcement Capacity Working Group to address Deputy Sheriff staffing shortages and rising private security costs at Hawaii state courts.

Working group membership would include the Chief Justice, Director of Law Enforcement, Directors of Human Resources Development and Finance, Attorney General, and bargaining unit representatives.

The group would evaluate realigning staffing levels with expanded statutory responsibilities, stabilizing Deputy Sheriff recruitment and retention, and reducing fiscal dependence on private security contractors.

Areas of review include facility-level court security needs, workforce compensation and hiring challenges, private contracting expenditures, and accountability concerns with using non-sworn security personnel.

A report with findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, is due to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the Regular Session of 2027.