HB585

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that restorative justice programs aim to address unresolved issues confronting victims, offenders, and their families. These programs bring offenders, victims, and their respective personal supporters together in a carefully managed, safe environment. Many victims feel that the criminal justice system does not give them a chance to get involved. Restorative justice puts victims at the heart of the justice process, by giving them a chance to ask the offender questions and explain the impact the crime has had on them.

The legislature further finds that the restorative justice process is a powerful healing tool and a way to empower victims, allowing them to play a greater role in defining the narrative around justice in their specific case. This paradigm focuses on victims and the harms done to them, the obligations those harms create for offenders and the community, and then, through the restorative justice process, how to put things right as much as possible. Restorative justice also builds a sense of empathy among the parties involved and can lead to creative, sustainable resolutions outside the scope of a more traditional court system.

Participation in a restorative justice program is available only to those victims who choose to participate. Because participation is voluntary, victims can stop the process at any time.

The legislature also finds that for restorative justice to take place, the offender must admit to the crime, and both the victim and offender must be willing to participate. The restorative justice program should be housed within the judiciary, but may be part of other state, county, or community agencies. To begin the process, victims can approach the state crime prevention and justice assistance division, the judiciary, or any of the counties' criminal justice programs. An impartial, trained, and experienced facilitator then meets with the parties involved to discuss the program's goals and plans a restorative justice process. After adequate preparation, the parties then meet with the facilitators and the resulting agreements may become the resolution of the case.

If successful, restorative justice can lead to the transformation of people, relationships, and communities. Restorative justice can also reduce crime, reduce repeat offenses, divert individuals from the criminal justice system, reduce the costs of criminal justice, increase crime victims' healing and well-being, reduce the backlog of court cases, and provide victims and offenders with greater satisfaction than what traditional criminal justice often allows. Restorative justice may occur at any level of the criminal justice process, including when police first encounter a crime, during the screening process, before a hearing is scheduled, before sentencing, or following conviction.

The legislature additionally finds that pilot projects such as the pono kaulike program on Oahu or the Hawaii county restorative justice program have been offered in Hawaii with positive results. Restorative justice pilot programs have been highlighted by the Federal Probation Journal, Honolulu Magazine, and KITV News.

Adequate funding must be made available for programs to work and to support at least one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position in each county. Over time, the State will realize savings in terms of lower costs to process criminal cases and decreased crime.

The purpose of this Act is to require the establishment of a restorative justice program in each county.

SECTION 2. (a) The judiciary or supporting agencies shall establish and support a restorative justice program in each county to allow victims and offenders an opportunity to participate in restorative justice.

(b) The judiciary or supporting agencies may contract with a credible and financially stable nonprofit organization to conduct restorative justice work in each county and ensure that victims are notified of restorative justice opportunities available to them.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary and upon successful completion of any restorative justice process with an agreement, approval of the victim, and approval of the prosecuting attorney, charges may be declined during the screening process or the case may be dismissed if charges have been filed.

(d) The judiciary or supporting agencies shall inform the following individuals in writing of the existence of the restorative justice program:

(1) The attorney general;

(2) The prosecuting attorney of each county;

(3) The public defender;

(4) The registered members of the Criminal Justice and Corrections Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association; and

(5) A representative of the community policing programs of each county.

(e) The judiciary or supporting agencies may request Victims of Crime Act grant funds for the purposes of this Act.

(f) For the purposes of this section, "restorative justice" includes restorative dialogues, restorative conferences, restorative justice circles, restorative sessions, Native Hawaiian reconciliation practices such as ho‘oponopono, or other types of restorative justice group processes.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for funding one restorative justice program and one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position in each county, including any matching funds required to receive Victims of Crime Act grant funds for the purposes of this Act.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the judiciary for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	585
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII