Criminal Justice (Corrections)

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 94: RELATING TO TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS.

Increases the mandatory minimum jail sentence for a first conviction of knowingly or intentionally violating a temporary restraining order from forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Requires mandatory mental health counseling for a first conviction of knowingly or intentionally violating a temporary restraining order.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory jail sentence from 48 to 72 hours for TRO violations, aligning with tough-on-crime sentencing policies that expand criminalization and restrict defendant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Sentencing

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 251: RELATING TO SOCIAL WORK.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services, to develop and establish a social work training program to assist nonviolent incarcerated individuals in the area of social work. Requires progress reports on the program to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes social work training for nonviolent incarcerated individuals to enhance rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, directly supporting criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 390: RELATING TO BRIBERY.

HB 390 proposes increased penalties for bribery offenses under specific circumstances. It would raise fines and/or prison sentences for individuals convicted of bribery when certain conditions are met, such as involving public officials or large sums of money. The bill directly affects people accused of bribery who fall under these heightened penalty provisions. The key mechanism is modifying existing penalty structures to impose stricter consequences in defined scenarios. This is a substantive policy change focused on criminal sentencing, not procedural or commemorative.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases fines/prison terms for bribery involving public officials, directly expanding punitive measures per 'oppose' indicators of stricter sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 276: RELATING TO ORDERS FOR PROTECTION.

Reinstates mandatory minimum jail sentences for successive violations of the same order for protection. Removes the distinction between domestic and non-domestic violations of an order for protection. Eliminates the court's ability to suspend mandatory minimum sentences.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeReinstates mandatory minimums, removes court discretion to suspend sentences, and eliminates domestic/non-domestic distinctions - increasing punitive sentencing per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Sentencing

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 3038: RELATING TO INCARCERATED PERSONS.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish a five-year pilot program to employ and pay incarcerated individuals with fewer than five years left on their sentence the minimum wage. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to submit reports to the Legislature. Makes an appropriation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMakes an appropriation for a pilot program, directly funding a new government expenditure under budget management.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePays incarcerated individuals minimum wage in a pilot program to support rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires minimum wage payment to incarcerated workers in a pilot program, advancing wage standards for a vulnerable group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Corrections Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 2356: RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide a certificate of rehabilitation to offenders who have satisfied all sentencing and post-release requirements. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to work with government and private stakeholders to conduct public education regarding the certificates. Authorizes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to work with state agencies to increase offenders' eligibility for security clearance in post-release employment with the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables employment for reentering offenders via certificates, directly reducing recidivism through rehabilitation support and stakeholder collaboration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1376: RELATING TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

Requires the Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation to reduce the number of individuals incarcerated in private, out-of-state correctional institutions. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective July 1, 3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates reduction of private, out-of-state incarceration, a direct reform measure to decrease reliance on for-profit corrections and promote systemic change in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1342: RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY PROGRAMS.

Expands programming and training for the comprehensive offender re-entry program under the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to reduce the rate of recidivism and increase inmate marketability and workforce readiness. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly expands re-entry programs to reduce recidivism and increase workforce readiness via funding, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands job training for ex-offenders to enhance workforce readiness and employment outcomes, directly advancing employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 169: RELATING TO REDRESS FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION AND IMPRISONMENT.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide written notice to certain persons regarding the ability to file a claim for redress under applicable wrongful conviction law. Requires the liberal construction of that law. Changes the standard for a claim for compensation for wrongful imprisonment from actual innocence to grounds consistent with innocence. Provides for advance compensation for petitioners under certain circumstances. Requires the State to prove, for claims for compensation for wrongful imprisonment, that the reversal or vacating of the petitioner's conviction or pardoning of the petitioner was inconsistent with innocence. Requires reports to Legislature from the Department of the Attorney General. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeChanges wrongful conviction standard to 'grounds consistent with innocence' and mandates advance compensation, promoting accountability and redress in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Victims' Rights

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 176: RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE PROTECTIVE ORDERS.

Increases the penalties imposed on individuals convicted for violation of a temporary restraining order and order for protection. Clarifies that the court shall not sentence a defendant to pay a fine for violating a temporary restraining order or order for protection if, after conducting a financial review, the court determines the defendant is or will be unable to pay the fine. Specifies that the court may suspend certain jail sentence for violation of a temporary restraining order or order for protection upon condition that the defendant remain alcohol- and drug-free, conviction-free, and complete court-ordered assessments or intervention.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for violating protective orders while preventing fines for indigent defendants, strengthening victim protection and equitable enforcement in criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Domestic Violence

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