Bill > HB2074

This bill amends the law regarding the offense of hindering prosecution in the first degree, which is when someone knowingly helps another person avoid being caught, prosecuted, convicted, or punished for a crime. Currently, this offense is classified as a class C felony, meaning it carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, regardless of how serious the original crime was. The bill proposes to change this by creating a "gradient penalty structure," meaning the severity of the penalty for hindering prosecution will now depend on the seriousness of the crime that was hindered. Specifically, the penalty for hindering prosecution will be one class or grade lower than the offense committed by the person being helped, but if the original offense was murder in any degree, hindering prosecution will be a class A felony, which carries a more severe penalty. The legislature's reasoning is that current law doesn't adequately punish those who assist offenders after a crime has been committed, and this change aims to ensure more appropriate sanctions, promote respect for the law, and better protect the public.

Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2074&year=2026