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Senate committee approves compassionate-release bill after contested testimony on victims’ safeguards and placements
Summary
The committee voted to pass HB 16-28, HD2 with amendments after supporters emphasized humanitarian and cost arguments while DCR and victims’ advocates pressed for clearer victim-notification procedures and placement safeguards for medically fragile people.
The Senate public-safety committee voted to pass House Bill 16-28, HD2 — a measure to codify and expand a compassionate-release process — after a day of split testimony that juxtaposed humanitarian arguments with operational and victims’-rights concerns.
Proponents, including advocacy groups, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and national experts, described compassionate release as a best practice that saves money, advances humane care and eases burdens on corrections and hospitals. Molly Crane of FAM urged two modest changes — adding an effective date and permitting other incarcerated people to help initiate applications — and…
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