I went looking for testimony this morning on SB2533, which I had read earlier in the week. I couldn’t remember the bill number, so instead did a text search for relevant terms. Nothing turned up. Finally I took word that would have to be found: “hawaii”

Here’s the system’s response:

Conclusion: The text search function isn’t functioning, at least not this morning.

As I kept looking, it turns out more parts of the legislative system seem to be out of order. From the status page of SB2533, links to testimony and committee reports aren’t working, although I can find the committee report by going directly to the detailed document directories. Same thing with testimony.

It’s a good thing that there’s some redundancy built into the system.

In any case, I tracked down the available testimony on SB2533 in the document directories and found what I was looking for–disturbing section allegations buried in a section of the ACLU’s testimony.

The bill calls for an audit of the state’s contracts with the Corrections Corporation of America and the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu.

ACLU provided testimony regarding conditions of CCA facilities, then went on to related issues. This section caught my attention.

We have also received several reports suggesting that CCA may be keeping inmates longer than necessary; because Hawaii pays CCA per inmate per day of incarceration, the longer inmates are held, he more money CCA receives. For example, we have received several complaints of inmates being granted parole by the Hawaii Paroling Authority, then being held for four months or more by CCA (based on vague and unsubstantiated reasons for ignoring the Paroling Authority’s orders). We have also received numerous reports that CCA-Saguaro inmates have been written up for spurious rule infractions shortly before their parole eligibility dates–thus making them ineligible for parole pursuant to Hawaii Paroling Authority’s rules–even though these inmates have never before received a write-up. One month of additional incarceration at CCA can easily cost the State and the taxpayers nearly $2,000–Money that is sorely needed for other programs like drug rehabilitation, mental health care, and education–and the Legislature need not (and should not) allow these reports to be ignored.

It definitely deserves follow-up.

And if you’re looking for information on human needs in this budget climate, check out the grant-in-aid applications considered at a joint Finance/Ways and Means hearing yesterday.