Hawaii Senate Bill SCR143

Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/10/23
• Refer: 3/15/23

Caption

Requesting Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Assist The State In Negotiating With The Federal Government For The Acquisition Of The Federal Detention Center In Honolulu.

Impact

Should the state successfully negotiate the acquisition, SCR143 could provide a critical solution to the issue of overcrowding by enabling the use of the Honolulu Federal Detention Center as a replacement for a potential new community correctional center. The resolution indicates that building new facilities would cost the state an estimated $1.5 to $2 billion, whereas utilizing an existing federal facility could be a more economically viable option. This acquisition is positioned as a way to not only handle the current inmate population but also to redesignate the site of the existing Oahu community correctional center for other uses.

Summary

Senate Concurrent Resolution 143 (SCR143) requests Hawaii's congressional delegation to assist the state in negotiating with the federal government for the acquisition of the Honolulu Federal Detention Center. The resolution outlines the need for such acquisition amid ongoing struggles with overcrowding in Hawaii's jails and prisons. The Honolulu Federal Detention Center currently houses a mix of federal pre-trial detainees and inmates awaiting trial in state court at a significantly lower occupancy compared to its maximum capacity. This legislative move seeks to alleviate the existing burden on state correctional facilities, which are currently holding well over their designed capacity.

Contention

Despite its intent to address pressing overcrowding issues, the resolution may bring about debate surrounding the implications of transferring federal detention facilities into state control. There are concerns regarding the long-term sustainability of housing federal inmates within state-operated facilities, as well as the negotiation terms with the federal Bureau of Prisons. Additionally, the resolution's history dating back to 2016 and previous legislative discussions on this topic suggest that there may be differing opinions on the efficacy and desire for such an acquisition within the state's legislative framework. Stakeholders may have varying perspectives on prioritizing state needs versus federal obligations in terms of inmate housing.