Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 353D — Offender Family Service Center Act

Division 1. Government — Title 20. Social Services

Hawaii Revised Statutes as published by the Hawaii State Legislature (files updated 1/5/2026 7:14 PM).

Division 1 Government

Title 20 Social Services

Chapter 353D Offender Family Service Center Act

§353D-1 Findings and purpose

The legislature finds and declares that maintaining an inmate's family and community relationships is an effective correctional technique which reduces recidivism. The legislature further finds that enhancing visitor services increases the frequency and quality of visits, thereby discouraging violent prisoner activity; and that the location of prisons and the lack of services to assist visitors presently impedes visiting.

[L 1987, c 251, pt of §1]

§353D-2 Definitions

As used in this chapter:

"Center" means an offender family service center.

"Department" means that department of the State that has jurisdiction over the administration of the correctional facilities.

"Program" means the offender family service center program.

[L 1987, c 251, pt of §1]

§353D-3 Offender family service center program; established

(a) There is established in the department an offender family service center program near the Oahu community correctional center.

(b) The department may contract with a private nonprofit agency pursuant to chapter 42D to implement this chapter.

[L 1987, c 251, pt of §1; am L 1991, c 335, §13]

§353D-4 Advisory council

There is established within the department for administrative purposes an offender family service center program advisory council. The council shall consist of seven members, of whom two shall be offender family members. The members of the council shall be appointed by the director of corrections and rehabilitation in consultation with private secular and religious organizations. The council may review and make recommendations to the director to improve the services rendered by the center.

[L 1987, c 251, pt of §1; am L 1988, c 141, §34; am L 1991, c 3, §3; am L 2022, c 278, §29]

§353D-5 Purposes

The purposes of the program and center are to provide the following services to families of offenders:

(1) Provision of clothing donated to the center by private organizations or individuals;

(2) Information on regulations and procedures governing visits;

(3) Referral to other agencies and services; and

(4) A shelter area, outside of the security perimeter, for visitors and visitors' children who are waiting before or after visits.

[L 1987, c 251, pt of §1]

§353D-6 Nonprofit agency: criteria for selection

The department shall employ all the following criteria in selecting a nonprofit agency with which it may contract pursuant to section 353D - 3:

(1) The number and quality of services proposed in comparison to direct program costs;

(2) Prior experience in working cooperatively with the department of social services and housing, other correctional agencies, community programs, inmates, visitors, and the general public;

(3) The ability to use volunteers and other community resources to maximize the cost effectiveness of the program.

[L 1987, c 251, pt of §1]

§353D-7 Annual report

The agency administering the program shall annually submit to the department and to the legislature a report to include, but not limited to, the following:

(1) A quantitative and narrative description of the services rendered;

(2) A description of the impact of the centers' services to families;

(3) A description of areas for improvement of services or coordination with other public or private agencies; and

(4) A description of the community resources which were utilized.

[L 1987, c 251, pt of §1]

§353D-8 Other provisions

Nothing in this chapter is intended to limit the department in developing additional programs or making all reasonable efforts to promote services to families of offenders under its jurisdiction.

[L 1987, c 251, pt of §1]