46. Make Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs
Available to All Offenders

WHEREAS the state of Hawai`i spends in excess of $30,000 per year for each incarcerated person; and

WHEREAS eighty-per cent or more of Hawai`i’s prison population suffers from drug and/or alcohol addiction; and

WHEREAS the cost of providing treatment to these addicted persons is far, far less than the cost of their incarceration;

WHEREAS the State Liquor Licensing Board receives considerable funds from the licensing of liquor establishments and funds are not deposited in the State's general fund.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Maui Democratic Party calls on the Hawai`i Democratic Party and our Hawai`i legislators to:

      1.  Screen all incarcerated persons for drug and alcohol problems immediately after sentencing.

      2.  Screen all incarcerated persons for psychiatric and violence-proneness problems immediately after sentencing.

      3.  Place non-violent persons found to be in need of drug and alcohol treatment into appropriate drug/alcohol treatment programs in lieu of prison.

      4.  Place non-violent persons in need of psychiatric treatment into psychiatric treatment programs having drug and alcohol abuse components in lieu of prison;

      5.  Place persons who are found to be violent and a danger to other into prison setting where drug, alcohol and behavioral treatment programs are available to address their addictions while protecting the community from violence.

       6. The drug and alcohol programs provided for may be financed by amending the state's liquor laws to provide that eighty-per cent of the net liquor licensing funds shall be used exclusively for the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse.