Bill > HCR181

This Concurrent Resolution requests the Judiciary, the branch of government responsible for courts and judges, to establish a working group to examine Hawaii's current system for handling juvenile offenders within the family court. The goal is to reevaluate the existing model and explore alternatives that offer more options besides incarceration, improve the rehabilitation of young people who commit offenses, and decrease the likelihood of them reoffending, a concept known as reducing recidivism. The resolution outlines the composition of this working group, which will include judges, representatives from state departments like Human Services and Education, and law enforcement, as well as invite participation from community members representing Native Hawaiian and Micronesian communities, and youth-focused non-profit organizations. The group will study how youth interact with the justice system, research the effectiveness of different rehabilitation and restorative justice models, particularly those used in New Zealand that emphasize family and community involvement, and consider how these approaches could be adapted for Hawaii, including alternative responses to juvenile incidents. The working group is expected to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2023 and will conclude its work by June 30, 2023.