STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1376

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 746, 747

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 746 and 747, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Correctional Industries Advisory Committee

 

G.M. No. 746

DENISE J. JOHNSTON,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015  (Term amended to 6-30-2014 by GM780); and

 

G.M. No. 747

THEODORE SAKAI,

for a term to expire 6-30-2014,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Denise J. Johnston and Theodore Sakai to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Denise J. Johnston from the Department of Public Safety and one individual.

 

     Denise J. Johnston is currently an Adult Corrections Officer V-Lieutenant with the Department of Public Safety.  She has been an Adult Corrections Officer since 1984.  Among her many current duties, she oversees the daily workings of the staff and inmates at the Community Service, Residency, and Security and Intake/Release Sections; assists in developing security procedures; and monitors housing movements of inmates throughout the facility to assure jail custodies are not mixed with

prison custodies.

 

     Your Committee notes from the nominee's personal statement that she believes in promoting morale, accountability, and rewarding hard work and dedication.  The nominee perceives her role and responsibilities as a member of the Corrections Industries Advisory Committee as providing guidance and support to encourage training opportunities between corrections industries and the private sector and to provide low-cost labor to non-profit

organizations.  Working as an Adult Corrections Officer, she understands how the correctional facilities work and has the insight into how training and labor programs benefit the inmates and public by providing the inmates with valuable skills that they can utilize when they reenter society and therefore avoid recidivism.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Theodore Sakai from the Department of Public Safety and two individuals.

 

     Theodore Sakai is currently the Principal of Ted I. Sakai and Associates and serves as a Certified Professional Executive and Life Coach, consultant, and trainer in leadership development, consultant in correctional management and program development, consultant in strategic planning, and labor arbitrator.  Mr. Sakai has experience working for the Department of Public Safety from 1998 to 2005 in various capacities, including service as Director, Deputy Director, Chief of Staff, Corrections Program Services Administrator, Corrections Division Administrator, and Program Planning Office Administrator.  The nominee has also been with the John Howard Association of Hawaii as Executive Director and served that entity in other various positions.

 

     The nominee is also an active community participant as a director or chair of numerous community and social service organizations, most of which are associated with corrections and rehabilitation.  Mr. Sakai has published several professional articles including one entitled "Restorative Circles: A Reentry Planning Process for Hawaii" and has received numerous awards and recognition for his work in corrections and human services.

 

     Your Committee notes from the personal statement of the nominee that since he left the employment of the Department of Public Safety, he has retained a keen interest in corrections in Hawaii.  Among other things, Mr. Sakai has served as a consultant to the Big Island's Going Home Consortium, a successful collaboration of state and community agencies focused on the successful re-entry of offenders into the Big Island

Community.  Going Home started as an effort to help offenders obtain meaningful jobs after they were released from incarceration.  Consortium members found that after a term of imprisonment, most offenders lacked experience and soft skills to secure good jobs and retain employment and that in addition to employment, offenders need support in such areas as treatment, family reunification, and housing.  Your Committee finds that the nominee will make valuable contributions to the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee in large part due to the experience and knowledge he has gained through work such as the Giving Home Consortium.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair