Report Title:

Parent-child Interaction; Incarcerated Parents

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for the expansion of parent-child interaction programs such as the Strengthening Keiki of Incarcerated Parents project (SKIP) at state correctional facilities.  (HB457 HD2)

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

457

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

relating to incarcerated parents.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that during the 1990s, the number of incarcerated parents in the United States grew by approximately fifty‑nine per cent.  The legislature further finds that currently there is no means of determining the exact number of incarcerated individuals with minor children in Hawaii as no procedure is in place for collecting such data.  However, it is estimated that there are approximately three thousand one hundred sixty-three parents of six thousand six hundred sixty-five children in Hawaii's prison system.  An increased focus needs to be placed on the children of incarcerated individuals to maintain the parent-child bond.

     Studies indicate that the children of incarcerated individuals suffer from a multitude of negative consequences, including possible displacement from their home and separation from their primary or secondary caregiver.  As a result, these children experience strong emotional reactions to the incarceration and disruption in their home life, leading to a significant increase, up to six times more likely, of becoming involved in the criminal justice system themselves.  State policies contribute to the breakdown of the family by failing to facilitate the continued relationship between incarcerated individuals and their children, when the relationship is in the best interest of the child.  Denial of visitation is a means of punishment or discipline of the incarcerated individuals, but those who truly suffer are the children.  However, strengthening family relationships has a positive effect on preventing recidivism.  Studies have shown it can lessen the possibility of future incarceration after an inmate's release from a correctional facility.  Studies have also shown that therapeutic involvement with families during incarceration builds better and stronger relationships between the incarcerated parent's children and the incarcerated parent once the parent is released.

     A successful model has already been developed and implemented in the State.  The supporting keiki of incarcerated parents (SKIP) project aims to strengthen families, decrease abuse and neglect of children of incarcerated parents, and decrease the occurrence of repeat incarceration.  The SKIP program works with incarcerated fathers at Waiawa correctional facility, and has been a model for projects in correctional facilities for both men and women inmates, such as No Na Kamalii and Ohana Strengthening at the Maui community correctional center and for Makua Keiki at the Kauai community correctional center.  A partnership is also currently underway to replicate the program in the Hawaii community correctional center.  All of the related SKIP programs have formed a coalition known as the SKIP Partnership.  In addition to an educational playgroup, the program also enrolls inmate parents in parenting programs such as Kamalama classes based on traditional Hawaiian values, and the First Teachers Nurturing Fathers program which helps them to nurture themselves and others and to develop good parenting skills.  The combination of education, play and learn groups, and support groups is aimed at increasing an incarcerated parent's ability to provide a safe and nurturing environment for young children.

     Therefore, the legislature determines that the State should take an active role in aiding these families through the provision of parent-child interaction programs such as the SKIP program, to ensure that these children can build and maintain strong relationships with incarcerated parents and grow into well-adjusted, contributing members of the community, breaking generational cycles of abuse, neglect, violence, and crime that lead to incarceration.

     The purpose of this Act is to support the expansion of parent-child interaction programs, such as the SKIP program, at other state correctional facilities to facilitate appropriate child visitation of incarcerated parents.

     SECTION 2.  Parent-child interaction.  (a)  Within the department of public safety, programs, such as the supporting keiki of incarcerated parents program, shall be developed for and implemented in state correctional facilities that house either male or female inmates.  Funding provided by this Act shall be used for:

     (1)  The development and implementation of parent-child interaction programs that meet security requirements, such as the supporting keiki of incarcerated parents program, throughout the state correctional system, including:

(A)  Training of public safety personnel on the merits of the program; and

(B)  Hiring of additional public safety personnel to facilitate the implementation of the programs;

     (2)  The collection of accurate demographic data on the children of incarcerated parents, including the number of children each incarcerated parent has, the children's ages, resident addresses and schools, custody and caregiving arrangements, and necessary services; and

     (3)  An independent review of the programs using researchers such as the University of Hawaii at Manoa public policy center. 

     (b)  The department of public safety shall submit the independent review, including any recommendations and proposed legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2009 regular session.

     (c)  The department of public safety shall contract with nonprofit health and human service agencies, communities of faith, and other relevant agencies or organizations to establish and implement parent-child interaction programs under this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for parent-child interaction programs at state correctional facilities.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.