STAND. COM. REP. NO. 258

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 582

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 582, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Director of the Department of Public Safety

 

G.M. No. 582

THEODORE I. SAKAI,

for a term to expire 12/1/2014,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, experience, and statements submitted by the nominee and finds Theodore I. Sakai to possess the requisite qualifications to be appointed to the position of Director of Public Safety.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the appointment of Theodore I. Sakai from the Governor; United States Attorney, District of Hawaii; United States Marshal Service; Department of the Attorney General; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Human Resources Development; Department of Health; Department of Transportation; Department of Defense; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii Paroling Authority; Office of Information Management and Technology; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Maui County Council; Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.; United Public Workers; Going Home Consortium; Department of Corrections, Commonwealth of Virginia; Office for Social Ministry; Good Beginnings Alliance; and numerous individuals.

 

     Theodore I. Sakai received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Mr. Sakai has worked continuously in the criminal justice field for over forty-three years.  Mr. Sakai has served as the interim Director of Public Safety since June 1, 2012, when he was appointed by the Governor.  He previously served as the Director of Public Safety from 1998 to 2002.

 

     As Director, Mr. Sakai's accomplishments include reducing the level of brutality in Hawaii's correctional facilities; fostering interagency collaboration around issues of substance abuse treatment, intermediate sanctions, and mentally ill offenders; establishing working relationships with community groups on the neighbor islands; implementing a management accountability system within the Department of Public Safety; reducing overtime by twenty-seven percent while base salaries increased; and reducing salary overpayments to virtually zero.

 

     Mr. Sakai has held several other positions with the Department of Public Safety over the years, including Program Planning Office Administrator, Corrections Division Administrator, Correctional Program Services Administrator, Chief of Staff for the Director, Deputy Director for Corrections, Administrative Assistant to the Director, and Warden of the Waiawa Correctional Facility.  Prior to his appointment as Director of Public Safety, Mr. Sakai served as a probation officer for the First Circuit Court.

 

     In addition to his work for the State, Mr. Sakai has also been involved with non-profit work.  He served as the Executive Director of a non-profit agency that provided a variety of services to criminal offenders.  His work experience includes acting as a consultant to the Going Home Consortium and the Good Beginnings Alliance for the "Supporting Keiki of Incarcerated Parents" program.  Mr. Sakai also served as the co-chair of the Task Force on Children of Incarcerated Parents.  Mr. Sakai is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Hawaiian Legacy Foundation, Read to Me International, and Hawaii Council for the Humanities.

 

     Testimony submitted in support of Mr. Sakai's appointment commend his knowledge in, experience in, and skill set to improve and address public safety issues in Hawaii.  Many testifiers observed that Mr. Sakai has a wide and deep range of professional experience gained through working for the Department of Public Safety.  Several testifiers noted that Mr. Sakai has worked hard to protect the safety of Hawaii's communities by reducing recidivism and encouraging inmates to participate in available programs.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Sakai is a true professional and epitomizes the modern corrections administrator who strives to provide progressive and humane care for inmates, while at the same time protecting the public safety.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair