SCR 21: requesting the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation To make available to correctional facility staff members throughout the State clinical counseling services that are separate and distinct from the existing mental health resources available to inmates.

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation To make available to correctional facility staff members throughout the State clinical counseling services that are separate and distinct from the existing mental health resources available to inmates.

     WHEREAS, working in a correctional facility carries inherent risks to the mental health of staff members due to their exposure to direct and vicarious trauma in this setting; and

     WHEREAS, the mental health of correctional facility staff members should be prioritized to prevent burnout, compassion fatigue, post-traumatic stress, and the development or exacerbation of other mental health conditions; and

     WHEREAS, in-house clinical counseling is an appropriate and needed method for addressing the mental health of correctional facility staff members; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is requested to make available to correctional facility staff members throughout the State clinical counseling services that are separate and distinct from the existing mental health resources available to inmates; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation is urged to utilize a portion of the operating funds of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to make clinical counseling services available to correctional facility staff members throughout the State, including hiring additional clinical counselors, psychologists, or other appropriate mental health service providers as necessary; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Report Title: 

DCR; In-House Clinical Counseling Services; Correctional Facility Staff

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1138

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 21

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 21 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITY STAFF MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE CLINICAL COUNSELING SERVICES THAT ARE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THE EXISTING MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO INMATES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to make available to correctional facility staff members throughout the State clinical counseling services that are separate and distinct from the existing mental health resources available to inmates.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission.

     Your Committee finds that staff across various correctional facilities in the State have raised significant concerns about their health and wellness, emphasizing the detrimental effects of chronic understaffing and excessive workloads.  Your Committee further finds that requesting the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to make additional mental health resources available to correctional facility staff members would address and bring attention to this critical issue.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 21 and recommends its adoption.

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