HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0448.012 2014-20161*1 WUNaL
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Murashige, Laura
From: Hawai'i Island Going Home Consortium <goinghomehawaii@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, November 02, 2015 1:22 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony for Reso_268-15
Attachments: Testimony Template (Stepping Up Initiative) - Bud Luth.docx
Mahalo,
Les Estrella
Going Home Hawaii
Phone: (808) 937-6257
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Email: goinghomehawaiiggmail.com
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Comm. No.�-
Ref. To: CO ket
Ref. ®ate NOVO.3 2015
1
November 2,2015
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Resolution 268-15, Draft 2
Aloha Council Members,
I am writing to express my support of Resolution 268-15, Draft 2 that urges the County of
Hawaii to enlist in the Stepping Up Initiative to reduce the number of jailed persons at Hawaii
Community Correctional Center (HCCC) with mental illness.
By enlisting Hawaii County in this national effort, you will afford us the opportunity to gain
necessary training, support, and hopefully put us "on the map" for available funding. As you
know, our County is in desperate need of funding to support services within the community that
have the ability to assist these mentally ill, non-violent offenders prior to, upon, and following
their release.
If these non-violent, mentally ill offenders are able to gain access to services prior to (jail
diversion) or upon their release from a jail or prison facility, the recidivism in our County will
lower significantly and our Department of Public Safety personnel will not face the stress and
frustration of having their facilities over capacity; and therefore, overburdened. This will make
for a much safer, healthier, and productive community for us all to work, play, and enjoy.
Thank you for taking the time to read this testimony.
Mahalo,
Bud Luth
Community Health Outreach/Harm Reduction
Hawaii Island HIV/ AIDS Foundation
74-5620 Palani Road Suite 101
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
(808)-331-8177
bluthCa.hihaf.orq