>> SHOOTINGS, STABBINGS, ROBBERIES AND RANDOM ATTACKS.

VIOLENT CRIMES ARE MAKING HEADLINES IN HAWAII.

COMMUNITIES ARE DEMANDING ANSWERS ON WHAT'S BEING DONE TO END THE VIOLENCE.

ARE LAWS TOUGH ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND DO POLICE AND OTHER CRIME FIGHTING AGENCIES HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO DO THEIR JOBS EFFECTIVELY?

TONIGHT'S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII START NOW.

>> Yunji:   ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII...I'M YUNJI DE NIES.

A DEADLY SHOOTING, A LATE-NIGHT STABBING, A BRUTAL KIDNAPPINGÖTHESE ARE ALL CRIMES POLICE IN HAWAII SAY THEY'RE INVESTIGATING...AND THEY'VE ALL HAPPENED IN JUST THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

YET, THE APPARENT SURGE IN VIOLENT CRIME HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MUCH LONGER AND RESIDENTS ARE NOT ONLY SCARED, BUT FED UP.

SO WHAT CAN BE DONE?

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS.

AND YOU'LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE PAGES.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

STEVE ALM IS THE HONOLULU CITY PROSECUTOR.

HE STARTED AT THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN 1985 AS A DEPUTY, LATER BECOMING A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR THEN A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE.

KEITH HORIKAWA IS A DEPUTY CHIEF IN THE HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HE'S BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR 29 YEARS AND HAS SERVED ON SEVERAL INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCES WITH THE FBI, DEA AND HOMELAND SECURITY.

HE IS ALSO A COLONEL IN THE ARMY RESERVE.

CALVIN ENDO IS A MEMBER OF THE WAIANAE COAST NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD'S EDUCATION AND SAFETY COMMITTEE.

HE AND HIS WIFE SUSAN ARE THE PROUD PARENTS OF 11 CHILDREN.

HONOLULU COUNCILMEMBER VAL AQUINO OKIMOTO REPRESENTS PARTS OF AIEA, PEARL CITY, WAIPIO AND MILILANI.

SHE IS ALSO CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL'S PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU, PROSECUTOR ALM, ABOUT WHAT WE'RE FEELING AND WHAT IS THE ACTUAL NUMBERS.

BECAUSE I THINK IN THE NEWS REPEATEDLY, IT FEELS LIKE WE SEE VIOLENT CRIME REPORTED ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS.

WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS SHOWING?

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE REAL CHALLENGES.

CRIME IS ACTUALLY DOWN.

ALL OVER THE ISLAND.

AND IN FACT IT'S LIKE HALF OF WHAT IT WAS IN THE '90s.

BUT PEOPLE FEEL LESS SAFE.

SO THAT'S THE PERCEPTION THAT'S GOT TO BE DEALT WITH.

SO EVEN DISTRICT EIGHT IS A HUGE DISTRICT WITH -- RUNNING FROM EWA BEACH ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WAIANAE COAST.

NUMBERS ARE DOWN THERE IN ALMOST ALL CATEGORIES.

NOW, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THOUGH IS ON THE WEST SIDE, THERE ARE -- LAST YEAR, THERE WERE MORE MURDERS THAN EVER.

THAT'S REALLY PROBLEMATIC.

IT'S USUALLY ONE OR TWO A YEAR.

LAST YEAR IT WAS EIGHT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY HAS TO BE ADDRESSED, AND WE'RE ALL WORKING VERY HARD.

WE'RE WORKING WITH HPD.

WE'RE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS BECAUSE THEY CAN PLAY A BIG ROLE.

THE NUMBERS ARE ACTUALLY DOWN, BUT BECAUSE IT GETS REPORTED A LOT AND PEOPLE SEE THAT IN SOCIAL MEDIA, I THINK THEIR FEELING IS IT'S UP.

WE'VE GOT TO WORK ON THAT.

WE'VE GOT TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY TO TRY TO DO WHATEVER STRATEGIES WE CAN TO ACTUALLY REDUCE IT EVEN FURTHER.

>> Yunji: CALVIN, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT FEELING VERSUS THE NUMBERS THAT THE HONOLULU PROSECUTOR IS BRINGING US TONIGHT.

FROM SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SEEM TO HEAR A LOT ABOUT IN THE NEWS, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO YOU?

>> KIND OF SCARY, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE A BUNCH OF GRANDKIDS.

WE WERE TALKING EARLIER, I'M VERY INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOLS, AND TO HAVE OUR KIDS WALKING AROUND SOMETIMES IN FEAR BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A GOOD THING FOR THEM TO GROW UP IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

I GREW UP IN THAT ENVIRONMENT, SO I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.

>> Yunji: YOU KNOW, DEPUTY CHIEF HORIKAWA, WE REFERENCED RESOURCES AT THE TOP OF THE PROGRAM, AND I KNOW THAT CHIEF LOGAN, WHEN HE WAS BROUGHT IN REALLY MADE THIS PLEDGE TO TRY TO INCREASE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION ON THE FORCE.

HE HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THAT.

THE NUMBERS ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS WHEN HE STARTED IN TERMS OF THE VACANCY RATE.

NOT FOR LACK OF TRYING, OF COURSE, BUT I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW YOU THINK THE LARGE NUMBER OF VACANCIES, OVER THREE HUNDRED OFFICERS NEEDED, IMPACTS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO PATROL.

>> IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT.

WE'RE ACTUALLY A LITTLE OVER FOUR HUNDRED IN OUR VACANCIES RIGHT NOW.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO PRIORITIZE OUR RESOURCE OR PEOPLE TO GO INTO PLACES THAT'S MOST NEEDED.

WE'RE GOING TO FILL PATROL POSITIONS AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

AND WE'RE A BIG DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE EIGHT PATROL DISTRICTS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF NONPATROL DISTRICTS.

RANGING FROM ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS TO INVESTIGATIVE UNITS.

EACH DIVISION IS IMPORTANT.

WE DO SURGE OUR MANPOWER TO WHERE IT'S NEEDED.

WE DO, OF COURSE, PUT OUT PEOPLE INTO PATROL.

IN THAT REGARD, WE'RE NOT REALLY TOO DEFICIENT IN THE PATROL SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

I THINK OUR BEAT STAFFING HAS BEEN THE SAME THE LAST, LIKE, TEN YEARS OR MORE.

IN THAT REGARD, YEAH, OUR PEOPLE ON THE ROAD ARE PRESENT AND DOING THEIR JOBS.

>> Yunji: OKAY.

COUNCILMEMBER OKIMOTO, I'M INTERESTED BECAUSE THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PUTS ASIDE $25,000 AS A HIRING INCENTIVE FOR NEW RECRUITS TO TRY TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO JOIN THE FORCE.

WHAT OTHER STEPS, IN ADDITION TO THAT, CAN COUNCIL TAKE ON A FINANCIAL LEVEL SO WE'RE NOT FACING 400 PLUS OFFICERS VACANT?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST GOT INTO THE COUNCIL, OVER A YEAR AGO -- ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, THIS WAS A TOPIC.

AND WE'RE IN BUDGET SEASON NOW.

THIS IS A CRUCIAL TIME WHERE WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO ALLOCATE OUR RESOURCES, AND IN OUR LAST FISCAL YEAR, THAT WAS SOMETHING WE PUT GREAT EMPHASIS ON.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THE DEPARTMENT?

WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO SO.

THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION HOW WE CAN THINK OUT OF THE BOX, BE CREATIVE WITH THE FUNDING AND WHERE THEY'RE BEING PLACED.

I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THE MAYOR -- SURPRISED ACTUALLY BUT HAPPY TO HEAR HE HAD THIS BIG INCENTIVE BECAUSE WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR CITIZENS TO THEN BE ABLE TO JOIN THE FORCES.

BUT I THINK WE -- AND WE CONTINUE TO PUT MONEY INTO OUR DEPARTMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I THINK ON OUR END, THOUGH, WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK INTO WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

OUR OFFICERS GO THROUGH A LOT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

THEIR FAMILIES ALSO.

WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THE VIOLENT CRIMES THEY'RE HAVING TO ADDRESS, IT REALLY IS -- IT'S NO WONDER IT'S A DIFFICULT THING TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO JOIN THE FORCE.

BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO FEEL THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE SUPPORTED AND THAT THEY WILL BE RESPECTED IN THEIR CAPACITY.

SO IT'S NOT JUST THE FUNDING.

WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM THE WAY WE CAN, BUT ALSO, AT -- IN THE EVERY DAY -- IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RESPECT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT SO THAT THOSE WHO WANT TO SERVE WILL BE WILLING TO JOIN AND WILLING TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Yunji: GO AHEAD.

>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE POINTED OUT, POLICE OFFICERS, DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE GOING THROUGH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM.

IT'S REALLY HARD.

YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF CHOICES IN WHAT TO DO AND WHAT KIND OF JOBS TO TAKE, WHETHER IT'S I.T., WHETHER IT'S OTHER STUFF WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T SHOOTING AT YOU OR WANTING TO FIGHT.

THEY DEAL WITH FOLKS.

THEY'RE SOCIAL WORKERS WITH GUNS, DEALING WITH SOME OF THE WORST PROBLEMS WE HAVE ON PEOPLE'S WORST DAY.

WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THEM.

AS FAR AS RETENTION AND HIRING MORE PEOPLE IS TRUE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE FACING THE SAME THING.

>> Yunji: I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION FROM SHANNON IN HAWAI'I KAI.

IT SAYS, WHY ARE JUDGES SO SOFT IN GIVING CRIMINALS PROBATION INSTEAD OF JAIL TIME?

IT'S A REVOLVING DOOR, AND THEY KNOW THEY HAVE MORE LAWS PROTECTING THEM THAN THE VICTIMS.

WHEN YOU READ ABOUT SOME OF THE HIGH-PROFILE INCIDENTS AND LOOK AT INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED, IT'S USUALLY NOT THE FIRST TIME.

THEY OFTEN HAVE LENGTHY RECORDS.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SHANNON ABOUT THIS PERCEPTION THAT JUDGES ARE BEING SOFT?

>> WELL, I THINK IN SOME CASES THEY COULD BE TOUGHER.

I WAS THE HARDEST SENTENCER WHEN I WAS THE JUDGE FOR 15 YEARS.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, THAT'S PROBABLY 35 TO 40% OF DEFENDANTS I THINK SENTENCING SHOULD GO TO PRISON.

THE REST HAVE TO BE PUT ON PROBATION, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY APPROPRIATE FOR THEM.

EVEN WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING RECORDS, THEY MAY HAVE HAD CONSEQUENCES.

THEY MAY HAVE GONE TO JAIL -- OR PRISON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND THEY GOT OUT AND COMMIT A CRIME AND SAME THING HAPPENS.

WHAT'S REALLY BEEN SCARY IS THERE HAVE BEEN HORRIFIC CASES RECENTLY.

ACID THROWN ON PEOPLE.

SHOOTINGS.

AND IT'S NOT -- THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HORRIFIC CASES.

THEY JUST GET A LOT MORE ATTENTION THESE DAYS.

I KNOW WHEN I JOINED THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE THE FIRST TIME, THERE WAS A CASE, A GUY WITH A BLOW UP A GODZILLA DOLL IN WAIKIKI.

A WOMAN CAME UP AND PATTED THE DOLL ON THE HEAD.

HE STOMPED HER TO DEATH.

FIRST IN THE BAR.

THEN SHE CRAWLED OUT TO THE SIDEWALK.

HE FOLLOWED HER OUTSIDE AND STOMPED HER TO DEATH.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN HORRIBLE THINGS ALL ALONG.

IT DOESN'T EXCUSE ANY OF IT.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THOSE CASES IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, WE HAVE HAD, I THINK, FOUR PEOPLE CONVICTED OF MURDER.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO PRISON FOR LIFE.

AND SO THEY KILLED THE PERSON, SO THEIR LIFE IS OVER.

BUT THE PERSON DOING THE SHOOTING, THEIR LIFE IS GOING TO BE OVER, TOO.

AVERAGE SENTENCE, MINIMUM IS 30, 40 YEARS.

IT'S BEING DEALT WITH.

I THINK JUDGES COULD BE TOUGHER, BUT WE'LL MAKE OUR CASE WHEN WE TRY THEM TO COURT.

>> Yunji: CHIEF, I WOULD LOVE YOU TO TAKE THIS ONE FROM TOM IN WAIKIKI WHO SAYS, HOW DO FELONS GET THEIR GUNS?

IT DOES FEEL LIKE WE'RE HEARING MORE ABOUT A LOT MORE GUN VIOLENCE IN RECENT MONTHS.

WHAT ARE YOU FINDING WHEN YOU'RE INTERACTING WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS?

ARE THESE LEGALLY PURCHASED AND WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM?

>> SO MOST OF THE WEAPONS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH ARREST OR OTHER TYPES OF RECOVERY, WE DO SEARCH WARRANTS, ETC., THEY'RE GOING TO BE REGISTERED, STOLEN OR GHOST GUNS.

VERY RARELY WOULD YOU FIND A ILLEGALLY REGISTERED WEAPON OWNED BY THAT PERSON.

FOR THE MOST PART, IN GENERAL, MOST GUN OWNERS GO THROUGH A BACKGROUND CHECK.

AS FAR AS MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT OWN GUNS HAVE A PRETTY DECENT RECORD ARE DEEMED TO BE TRUSTWORTHY.

SO MOST OF THE GUNS ON THE STREETS, THEY'RE TAKEN IN BURGLARIES, ETC., FLOWN IN ILLEGALLY THROUGH THE MAINLAND.

I WOULD SAY MOST OF THE GUNS WE RECOVER ARE ILLEGALLY OBTAINED.

>> Yunji: YOU'VE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT 29 YEARS.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ENCOUNTERING MORE GUNS THAN YEARS PAST?

>> THE PERCEPTION IS THERE.

STEVE IS RIGHT.

OVERALL CRIME RATES ARE DOWN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HOMICIDE THIS YEAR AND WEAPONS OFFENSES.

WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN WEAPONS OFFENSES.

>> Yunji: THAT IS OUR FOCUS TONIGHT.

IS THE VIOLENT CRIME YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

CALVIN, IF YOU WOULD TAKE THIS ONE.

THE MAYOR AT HIS LAST TOWN HALL MEETING SAYS POLICE CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE AND COMMUNITY NEEDS TO HELP.

WHAT DID HE MEAN BY THAT?

BOB FROM KANEOHE, I'M SURE YOU SAW THAT INTERACTION.

IT MADE A LOT OF NEWS.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ACTIVISM ON THAT LEVEL?

>> WHEN I SAW WHAT THE TOPIC WAS GOING TO BE, I THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

I GOT THIS ILLUSTRATION.

SO I COME HOME ONE NIGHT, TURN ON THE LIGHT, AND MAYBE YOUR HOUSE THE SAME WAY.

ROACHES.

WAIT A MINUTE.

I HAVEN'T TREATED FOR A WHILE.

I SEE THESE ROACHES, AND THE -- ANY OF YOU KNOW ALAN, HIS FAMOUS PHRASE IS, THE PROBLEM IS NOT EVIL.

THE PROBLEM IS THE LACK OF LIGHT.

SO I WAS WATCHING THIS VIDEO ON EWA BEACH, WHERE THE COMMUNITY, THIS CHURCH AND OTHER PEOPLE JOINED TO DO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH WALKS, AND WE FOUND -- I THINK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, HPD HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE.

YOU GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE DOING THE SECURITY WATCHES, IT DOES HAMPER THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO WRONG.

SO THE COMMUNITY IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART.

I ALWAYS REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST WENT TO WAIANAE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WAS ASKING THE PRINCIPAL BECAUSE I'M VERY INVOLVED WITH THE CHURCH, WHO CAN I BRING ON CAMPUS?

HE SAYS YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH BRING AS LONG AS YOU SIGN THEM IN AND THEY DON'T GO PREACHING.

SO THESE OLD LADIES, TUTUS BEGAN TO COME.

FIVE OF THEM, AND THEY WALK THE CAMPUS, AND THEY STARTED JUST TALKING STORY WITH THESE KIDS, WALKING AROUND DURING CLASS.

AND THEY ACTUALLY HAD A BIG IMPACT ON THESE KIDS THAT WERE ROAMING AROUND.

>> Yunji: TO YOUR POINT, PAT FROM MAUI SAYS, LOCAL PEOPLE HAVE TO START TAKING CARE OF THE COMMUNITY.

BE VIGILANT OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.

COUNCILMEMBER OKIMOTO, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE MAYOR, WHAT HE HAD TO SAY AT THAT TOWN HALL?

>> I WASN'T SITTING PRESENT AT THAT TOWN HALL.

I DID HEAR ABOUT IT.

I DO THINK THAT HE WASN'T CALLING PEOPLE TO GO AND BECOME OUR VIGILANTE POLICE OFFICERS.

I DO AGREE.

THIS IS SOMETHING I SHARED AT NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS.

WE CAN'T EXPECT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE AT EVERY STREET CORNER.

TAKE BACK OUR COMMUNITIES.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE.

THE CONCERN NOW, THEY'RE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP OR STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY KNOW TO BE RIGHT.

I THINK THE COMMUNITY REALLY HAS TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR COMMUNITIES BACK AND DO WHAT WE CAN DO ON OUR PART.

AND A LOT OF THE CRIMES ARE COMMITTED MANY TIMES BY YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO GO BACK THE TO HOMES.

WHAT ARE THESE YOUTH AND KIDS, WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT AT HOME?

THAT IS ONE OF THE ROOT PROBLEMS OR ROOT AREAS.

IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING AT HOME, WE CAN'T EXPECT -- I'M A FORMER TEACHER, WE CAN'T EXPECT TEACHERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN.

THEY CARRY A VITAL ROLE IN THIS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT ARE THE FAMILIES AND THE PARENTS AND THE HOMES DOING TO MAKE SURE THESE YOUTH ARE TAUGHT PROPERLY SO THAT THEY'RE NOT TURNING TO ACTIVITIES OR OTHER THINGS THAT WILL THEN LEAD THEM TO COMMITTING CRIMES.

BUT I AGREE.

IT'S NICE TO HEAR WHEN COMMUNITIES ARE BANDING TOGETHER, AND THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY CAN DO SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT RATHER THAN JUST RELYING COMPLETELY ON THEM.

>> Yunji: AND, CHIEF, HOW DO COMMUNITIES SAFELY DO THAT?

BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME TONIGHT.

SO YOU DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TUTUS THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT APPROACHING SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.

AT THE SAME TIME, HAVING A PRESENCE LIKE THAT ON A SCHOOL CAMPUS IS NOT A BAD IDEA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND FOR US, PEOPLE ASSOCIATE THE POLICE WORK WITH ARRESTS AND TACTICAL OPERATIONS BUT FOR US TOO, WE DO TAKE A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH.

WE DO A LOT OF COMMUNITY WORK.

WE HOST AND FACILITATE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHES.

WE'RE IN THE SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT MENTORING PROGRAMS.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRACKS AT FOUR DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOL.

AND WE HAVE GOOD COMMUNITY POLICING, CPTs THAT ARE CONSTANTLY ENGAGING IN OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR YOUTH.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET THAT MESSAGE ACROSS.

WE'RE NOT IN THE HOMES SO WE HOPE THAT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE DOES TAKE MORE OF AN ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THAT.

I THINK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE THAT IT'S NOT JUST -- YOU CAN'T ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF THIS PROBLEM.

IT'S A COMMUNITY APPROACH AS WELL.

>> Yunji: YEAH.

AND THERE ARE SOME DEEP ISSUES.

AND ERIC IN KAILUA ASKED THIS, WHICH ADDRESSES THIS.

PROSECUTOR ALM, IF YOU WOULD ADDRESS THIS ONE.

HOW MUCH DOES THE HIGH COST OF LIVING PLAY INTO THE RISE OF VIOLENT CRIME?

ARE PEOPLE JUST ON EDGE, AND IF SO, WHAT CAN ANYONE DO ABOUT THAT?

HOW MANY OF THESE CRIMES ARE OUT OF DESPERATION?

WE KNOW THAT HALF OF OUR POPULATION IS LIVING IN THE ALICE POPULATION, WHICH IS ONE CAR BREAKDOWN OR ONE MEDICAL INCIDENT AWAY FROM LOSING THAT CAR OR PERHAPS NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE RENT.

WHAT DO YOU SEE OF THAT PRESSURE PLAYING INTO THAT TREND?

>> I THINK THERE'S A DANGER LIKE IN COVID, IF PEOPLE ARE COOPED UP, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES WENT UP.

GENERALLY, PEOPLE ARE HONEST OR THEY'RE NOT.

AND JUST BECAUSE THEY'VE LOST THEIR JOB -- MOST PEOPLE DON'T COMMIT CRIMES.

WE'VE HAD TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES IN HAWAI'I, AND YET THE CRIME RATE WENT DOWN.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER.

LIKE THE CHIEF SAID, WEAPONS ARE CAUGHT AT THE SCENE.

THEY MAY BE STOLEN.

SO PEOPLE NEED TO LOCK THEIR WEAPONS WHEN THEY'RE AT HOME.

IT WILL ALSO PREVENT SUICIDE AND YOUNG PEOPLE FROM SHOOTING EACH OTHER ACCIDENTALLY.

BUT PASTOR ALAN, AS WE TALKED ABOUT AND OTHER PASTORS ON THE WAIANAE COAST, ARE VERY HELPFUL AND THEY'RE GETTING NEIGHBORHOOD SECURITY OF WATCHES AT EACH OF THE CHURCHES.

THERE ARE MANY MORE HONEST, HARD-WORKING PEOPLE ON THE WAIANAE COAST THAN CROOKS.

CROOKS GIVE IT A BAD NAME.

SO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SECURITY WATCHES SEND A MESSAGE THAT THE GOOD PEOPLE ARE IN CHARGE.

I WENT TO CHRISTMAS ON THE AVENUE LAST YEAR.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

AND NOT A SINGLE INCIDENT.

SO THE GOOD PEOPLE OUTNUMBER THE FOLKS CAUSING TROUBLE.

BUT WHAT ANYBODY CAN DO IF THEY SEE SOMETHING, CALL 911.

DON'T GET INVOLVED YOURSELF WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THE COMMUNITY CAN PLAY A BIG ROLE THAT WAY.

>> Yunji: OKAY.

HERE'S A QUESTION FROM ALEX IN WAIANAE WHO SAYS, WHY ARE WE FOCUSING ON ENFORCEMENT WHEN THERE SHOULD BE MORE EFFORT ON PREVENTION?

WE USED TO HAVE DIVERSION PROGRAMS FOR YOUTHS, JUVENILES THAT NEEDED HELP AND ATTENTION.

THOSE WERE ELIMINATED NEVER BROUGHT BACK.

WE SHOULD REVERSE THIS AND BRING THEM BACK.

YOU DID SAY IT IS BUDGET SEASON.

ARE THERE PRIORITIES FOR PREVENTION PROGRAMS SO THAT WE'RE GETTING IT BEFORE IT BECOMES AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

AND DEPUTY CHIEF MENTIONED WORKING WITH COMMUNITY POLICING TEAMS.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE ALSO BEEN TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS STATED THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE, BUT THIS IS TO START AT THE EARLIER YEARS.

THEY STILL GO INTO THE SCHOOLS NOW AND EDUCATE AND DO THEIR BEST.

I APPRECIATE IN MY DISTRICT WE HAVE MULTIPLE CPTs THAT THEY GO INTO THE COMMUNITY.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

PREVENTION IS ALWAYS THE BEST SOURCE.

IF WE CAN'T CATCH IT THERE, WE HAVE TO DO ALL WE CAN ALONG THE WAY.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES, AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ASK FOR THE RESOURCES TO PUT INTO THE BUDGET.

I THINK FOR ME WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT THE ROOT PROBLEMS ARE, THEY'RE NOT ONE PANACEA.

THERE'S NO ONE WAY, ONE REASON AND ONE SOLUTION.

IT HAS TO BE A MULTI-APPROACH TO IT.

PART OF IT REALLY IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

AND I TALK WITH PROSECUTING ATTORNEY ALM ABOUT THIS.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE REPEAT OFFENDERS ARE BACK ON THE STREETS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE VIOLENT CRIMES REALLY WHERE THEY'RE STEALING WEAPONS OR COMMITTING REALLY HORRIFIC CRIMES, THEY'RE NOT THE ONES THAT ARE EVERYDAY PEOPLE ON THE STREET.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN IN JAIL FOR ONE REASON AND THEY'RE BACK ON THE STREETS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE COMMUNITY ARE SAFE SO WHILE THERE IS PREVENTION AND WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN.

WE HAVE TO DO IT AT THE CITY LEVEL AND STATE LEVEL, AND THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM HAS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER.

ARE WE AS LEGISLATORS MAKING THE RIGHT RULES AND LAWS SO THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN ENFORCE THEM?

WHEN THEY CATCH CRIMINALS, ARE THEY ABLE TO STAY WITHIN THE PRISON SYSTEM SO THEY'RE NOT COMING BACK OUT AND HARMING PEOPLE?

>> IF I CAN ADD TO THAT IT.

WE DID HAVE RESUME SOME OF OUR INTERVENTION PROGRAM.

A FEW YEARS AGO THAT WAS DISCONTINUED, BUT WE BROUGHT BACK JUVENILE COUNSELING FOR SOME OF THE RUNAWAYS, AND IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE.

>> Yunji: WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN WAIKIKI AND CHINATOWN IS GEOGRAPHIC EXEMPTION.

IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN TO FOLKS WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR ABOUT WHAT THAT IS, WHAT IT'S DONE.

CAN WE EXPECT THAT IN OTHER COMMUNITIES?

>> IT STARTED WITH WEED AND SEED WHEN I WAS U.S. ATTORNEY LIKE 25 YEARS AGO.

AND THE IDEA IS YOU IDENTIFY GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

YOU WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

YOU ASK RESIDENTS WHAT THE CRIME PROBLEM ARE AND YOU ADDRESS THOSE.

AND WHEN IT'S A SAFER COMMUNITY, PEOPLE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE.

SET UP A HEAD START PROGRAM AT KUKUI GARDENS.

AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING AND SPORTS PROGRAM AT KAIULANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ACROSS FROM MAYOR WRIGHT.

WITH DONATED COMPUTERS.

PREVENTION IS CRITICAL.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE D.O.E.

GET SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS BACK.

BECAUSE THEY CAN PREVENT CRIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS.

SO THE GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTION IS ONE OF THE TOOLS.

THE WHOLE IDEA IS TRY TO REDUCE CRIME, AND YOU HAVE PROGRAMS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY GET STRONGER.

SO AT THE BEGINNING, WE WERE HAVING NO LUCK IN GETTING PEOPLE PUT ON PROBATION.

A CONDITION IS THE GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTION.

BUT A LOT OF US WERE VERY VOCAL.

I'M GLAD TO SEE JUDICIARY START IT SO THEY'RE STARTING TO GRANT THAT MORE.

NOW IF A PROGRAM LIKE THAT WAS DONE ON THE WAIANAE COAST, THAT PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF IT, GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTION BECAUSE IF FOLKS LIVE THERE, YOU'RE NO GOING TO CHASE THEM OUT OF THE COMMUNITY OR KICK THEM OUT OF THERE.

IF SOMEBODY FROM THE OUTSIDE CAME THERE TO START TROUBLE, THAT MIGHT BE A REALLY GOOD TOOL.

BUT I THINK IT'S TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY, FINDING OUT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE, AND THEN TRYING TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS.

>> Yunji: WE'VE SEEN IT BE SO EFFECTIVE IN WAIKIKI, WHERE WE HAVE CRIME.

YOU KNOW THE NUMBERS, I DON'T.

BUT WE KNOW THAT THE CRIME RATES HAVE GREATLY REDUCED SINCE THAT WAS INTRODUCED.

I'M INTERESTED, FOLKS WHO HAVE THOSE GEOGRAPHIC EXEMPTIONS AND FOR VIEWERS, THAT MEANS FOR CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME, REPEAT OFFENDERS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TO BREAK THE CYCLE.

BUT THE IDEA BEING THAT DO THOSE INDIVIDUALS PERPETRATE IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS OR DOES THE CRIME STOP?

>> SOMETHING ABOUT WAIKIKI, SOMETHING ABOUT CHINATOWN THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET CRIME THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN IN OTHER AREAS.

IT ISN'T THAT THEY'RE GETTING CHASED.

AND THE POLICE ARE GOOD ABOUT NOT TRYING TO SEND THEIR PROBLEMS FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IS SOME OF THOSE GUYS WILL GO BACK IN THERE, AND SO THEN THEY NEED TO GET ARRESTED AND GET THEIR PROBATION REVOKED AND GET A CONSEQUENCE THAT WAY.

ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL IS CALLED ASSISTANT COMMUNITY TREATMENT WHERE SOMEBODY HAS A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM.

YOU CAN GET A PETITION STARTED.

SOMETIMES DEFENDANT AGREE TO IT.

THEY'LL TAKE A SHOT FOR THEIR SCHIZOPHRENIA AND THAT'S REALLY HELPS THEIR BEHAVIOR.

AS CONNIE MITCHELL, WHO'S A GOOD COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, SHE'S BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THIS.

NOW WAIKIKI IS DOING THAT TOO.

BECAUSE AS SHE SAID, IF SOMEBODY GET THE SHOT AND IS MUCH MORE STABLE, THEY MAY STILL BE HOMELESS BUT YOU CAN TALK TO THEM AND REASON WITH THEM.

BEING HOMELESS IS NOT A CRIME.

BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN HOMELESS FOLKS WHO ARE COMMITTING THE CRIME.

AND HPD IS GOING TO ARREST THEM AND WE'RE GOING TO PROSECUTE THEM.

>> Yunji: CALVIN, PROSECUTOR LISTED A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE WORKING IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

DO YOU FEEL YOUR COMMUNITY HAS ENOUGH RESOURCES?

WE HEARD WHY THE GEOGRAPHIC EXEMPTION MIGHT NOT WORK FOR WAIANAE, BUT IS THAT SOMETHING YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WOULD FIND APPEALING?

>> I'M NOT REALLY SURE, BUT I'M THINKING WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT -- YOU KNOW THE -- WE USED TO HAVE THE PROGRAM.

WAIANAE, WHEN I FIRST MOVED OUT, THERE WERE A LOT OF ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANYMORE.

FOR SOME REASON THEY STOPPED FUNDING IT.

BUT MANY OF THEM WERE REALLY GOOD.

IT WAS GETTING THROUGH THOSE KIDS THAT WERE ON THE VERGE OF DOING SERIOUS CRIMES.

AND TURNED A LOT OF THOSE KIDS AROUND.

AND THE FUNDING JUST LEFT.

I KEPT WATCHING THAT, SEEING IF IT WAS GOING TO RETURN.

SO, YOU KNOW, MOVING SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE ELSE IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>> THEY DO STILL HAVE PAL.

>> WE DO.

>> MY DAUGHTER IS PARTICIPATING.

A GREAT RESOURCE, AND THEY DO D.A.R.E.

IN SCHOOL.

>> IT'S COMING BACK.

>> WE HAVE THAT PROGRAM IN FULL EFFECT.

>> Yunji: CHIEF HORIKAWA, MILDRED IN HILO SAYS WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT MAKE THE POLICE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING GOING ON IN HAWAI'I?

DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE'RE ASKING TOO MUCH OF THE OFFICERS?

>> THAT'S SOMETIMES THE PERCEPTION.

IT'S EASY TO CALL 911, AND WE RESPOND TO EVERY CALL, WHETHER IT BE BONAFIED CRIME OR CAT IN A TREE.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE HOMELESS SITUATION, SOMETIMES WE DO ADDRESS ISSUES, BUT LIKE PROSECUTOR SAID, HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A CRIME.

WE TRY TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS.

AS FAR AS THAT'S CONCERNED, I THINK WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OVERALL IN HANDLING THE IMPORTANT STUFF OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY THE VIOLENT CRIMES.

>> Yunji: THERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU THAT I'M INTERESTED IF YOU WOULD TAKE.

JUDITH IN HONOLULU SAYS, WITH THE LAW THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO CONCEAL GUNS AND CARRY FIREARMS, DO YOU THINK IT WILL INCREASE VIOLENT CRIME?

WHAT ABOUT NEW LAW THAT LETS PEOPLE OPEN CARRY WITH OTHER WEAPONS LIKE HATCHETS?

HOW ARE POLICE OFFICERS GOING TO HANDLE THIS?

WE DID A PROGRAM ON THIS TOPIC WHEN CONCEAL-CARRY WAS FIRST INTRODUCED.

THERE WERE A LOT OF CONCERNS.

WE WOULD HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE CARRYING GUN AND THAT COULD LEAD TO VIOLENT INCIDENTS.

>> ESPECIALLY WITH THE CONCEAL AND CARRY PERMIT PROCESS.

THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF BACKGROUND CHECKS IN ADDITION TO POSSESSING A WEAPON LEGALLY.

THE FOLKS THAT DO GET GRANTED PERMIT TO CARRY, FOR THE MOST PART, THESE ARE GOING TO BE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS.

GOOD BACKGROUND CHECKS.

EVEN YOUR PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.

THIS ISN'T THE POPULATION WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT.

SO FAR, I THINK WE'VE HAD MAYBE ONE CASE SINCE THIS PROCESS HAS BEGUN.

ONE PERSON WAS ARRESTED WITH A WEAPON.

BUT WE'RE TALKING ONE OF LIKE THOUSANDS.

SO FOR THE MOST PART, WE'RE NOT SEEING THE PERMIT TO CARRY OWNERS COMMITTING CRIMES.

>> Yunji: I'M INTERESTED, COUNCILMEMBER, ARE THERE -- IS THERE ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE PREVENTION ASPECT?

WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROGRAMS.

DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNDAMENTALLY A PROBLEM OF YOUTH?

WE TALKED ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THOSE ARE THE PROGRAMS WE SEEM TO BE FOCUSED ON OR IS IT A BROADER SOCIETAL ISSUE?

>> I WANTED TO TAP ON TO WHAT DEPUTY CHIEF MENTIONED.

WE TALK ABOUT GUNS AND VIOLENT CRIMES THAT HAD BEEN DONE WITH THE WEAPONS.

I KNOW THAT IT'S NATURAL FOR OUR PUBLIC TO BE AFRAID OF THE OPEN CARRY, BUT THESE ARE -- WITH SUCH A STRINGENT PROCESS, APPLICATION PROCESS, THESE ARE NOT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMMITTING VIOLENT CRIMES.

I'VE ASKED FOR STATISTICS IN THE PAST.

IT'S ONE OUT OF THOUSANDS THAT UNFORTUNATELY COMMITTED A VIOLENT CRIME.

BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FIND WAYS TO ACQUIRE ANY WEAPON.

IT'S NOT JUST A GUN.

IT COULD BE A KNIFE OR VEHICLE, AND THAT'S THE UNFORTUNATE PART.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT?

I HAVE WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT, MY OFFICE AND I.

WHAT RESOURCES THEY NEED.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT I MENTIONED BEFORE.

THE VIOLENT CRIMES THAT WERE COMMITTED WITH WEAPONS, THESE PEOPLE HAD ACQUIRED ILLEGALLY.

ONE MIGHT HAVE BEEN PART IN MY DISTRICT.

THEY HAD BEEN RECENTLY IN JAIL SO THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE A WEAPON TO BEGIN WITH SO THESE CRIMINALS ARE GOING TO FIND A WAY, AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT WE CAN -- WE DON'T NEED MORE GUN LAWS.

MAKE SURE PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO END IN BACK ON STREETS.

THE COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE WANT TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE.

BUT IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR SPECIFIC NUMBERS, I COULDN'T GIVE IT TO YOU.

I JUST KNOW THAT WE PUT IN A REQUEST FOR CPT.

I KNOW THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T NEED THAT.

WE WERE PUTTING THE MONEY WHERE DEPARTMENT FEELS THEY NEED FOR THE ABILITY TO NOT JUST OFFER PREVENTION BUT ALSO MAINTAIN THE SERVICES THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING.

>> Yunji: OKAY.

THERE'S A CALLER WHO CALLED IN AND SAID, IN 2020 DURING THE PANDEMIC, HUNDREDS OF PRISONERS WERE RELEASED BECAUSE OF OVERCROWDING IN PRISON AND HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS.

HOW MANY WERE ABLE TO ASSIMILATE INTO SOCIETY WITH A LOT OF SERVICES NOT BEING OFFERED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AT TIME?

>> THE ONES THAT WE RELEASED, WHAT WE WANTED ALWAYS IS GET IN FRONT OF A JUDGE SO WE CAN MAKE A CASE-BY-CASE DETERMINATION.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE A LAW THAT SAYS IT'S A NONVIOLENT CRIME, FINE.

BUT THEY MAY HAVE A BUNCH OF PRIOR VIOLENT CRIMES.

SO AS LONG AS WE GET IT IN FRONT OF A JUDGE AND BE ABLE TO PRESENT THAT KIND INFORMATION, I THINK WE CAN HELP KEEP THEM IN CUSTODY.

THEY DIDN'T COMMIT ALL THAT MANY CRIMES.

THERE WERE SOME WHEN YOU LET PEOPLE OUT, BUT WITH A POPULATION WE'RE DEALING WITH, THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE HOMELESS PROBLEM IS A LOT WORSE.

THAT WAS A SOBERING STATISTIC.

WE SAW 11% WORSE THAN A YEAR AGO IN SPITE ALL THE EFFORTS THE CITY AND STATE ARE MAKING.

WHEN WE LOOKED AT REINVIGORATING WEED AND SEED IN CHINATOWN, CRIME WASN'T AS BAD BUT THE HOMELESS PROBLEM IS WORSE.

SO WE STARTED A PROGRAM, IF THEY GET ARRESTED FOR A DRUG POSSESSION CHARGE, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM ASSESSED AT THE JAIL, OCCC RIGHT AWAY AND INTO TREATMENT BECAUSE IF THEY GET INTO HOUSING, UNLESS THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH OR DRUG PROBLEM, THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO SUCCEED.

SO WE'VE REALLY GOT TO HIT THEM ON BOTH ENDS.

ALMOST ALL THOSE FOLKS ARE GOING TO END UP IN PROBATION.

SO WE MIGHT AS WELL GET THEM INTO TREATMENT RIGHT AWAY RATHER THAN HAVE THEM SIT IN JAIL SEVERAL MONTHS AND THEN GET PUT ON PROBATION AND THEN TRY TO GET THEM INTO TREATMENT.

WE'VE GOT TO BE SMART ON CRIME.

>> Yunji: THE TREATMENT ASPECT, IF YOU TALK TO PROVIDERS, THEY'LL TELL YOU THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TREATMENT.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FACILITIES.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE PLACES TO SEND THEM SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE MOST WELL-INTENDED JUDGE AND A WILLING PARTICIPANT, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO.

WHAT ABOUT THAT PART OF THE PUZZLE?

>> THE TREATMENT PROGRAMS -- AND WE HAVE GOOD ONES HERE.

THEY NEED A DEDICATED SOURCE OF FUNDING FROM THE LEGISLATURE SO THEY KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GET MONEY THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR, NEXT YEAR, NEXT YEAR.

AND THEY'LL EXPAND AND ADD ANOTHER WING TO THEIR COMPONENT.

I THINK NOT EVERYBODY NEEDS RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT BUT I CAN TELL YOU HOMELESS WHO SLEEPING ON THE SIDEWALK IN CHINATOWN ALMOST ALL HAVE MENTAL HEALTH AND ALCOHOL PROBLEMS.

AND THERE IS SPACE FOR A NUMBER OF THEM.

WE'VE GOT TO GET EVERY SINGLE ONE WE CAN, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE JUDICIARY TO TRY TO GET HOPE PROBATION RUNNING THE WAY IT SHOULD.

WE'RE HAPPY THAT THEY'RE FINALLY HOPE TO DOING THAT BECAUSE EVERYBODY WHO'S HOMELESS, SOON THEY STEP DOWN TO RESIDENTIAL TO OUT-PATIENT, THEY NEED TO HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

IF THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES, THEY'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE STREET SO WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM FROM ALL ANGLES TO TRY TO GET THEM SOBER, KEEP THEM SOBER SO WE CAN GET THEM OFF THE STREET.

KEEPING THEM OFF THE STREET IS THE REAL CHALLENGE.

>> Yunji: RO IN WAIKIKI HAS A QUESTION.

THIS IS MORE OF A QUESTION OF HOW WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS AS A COMMUNITY.

IT SAYS, ARE WE BECOMING NUMB TO VIOLENCE?

SURE, WE GET UPSET AT FATAL SHOOTINGS OR BEATINGS AND STABBINGS AND THE FEELING FADES AND THAT IS JUST SCARY.

DO YOU THINK WE'RE KIND OF BECOMING NUMB TO ALL OF THIS?

>> I HAVEN'T.

THAT'S WHY I STAY VERY INVOLVED IN MY COMMUNITY.

ESPECIALLY YOUNGER GENERATIONS.

SCHOOL KIDS, WHAT WE FOUND IS VERY IMPORTANT.

YOU NEED TO HAVE -- I ASKED DOLE MIDDLE SCHOOL ONE DAY WHEN I TOOK OVER THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

I THOUGHT THEY HAD A BULLYING PROGRAM, RIGHT.

I ASKED THE PRINCIPAL, CAN YOU SENT ME YOUR BULLYING PROGRAM?

HE'S EMAILS BE BACK AND SAYS, LET ME GET YOU STRAIGHT, CALVIN.

WE DON'T HAVE A BULLYING PROGRAM.

WE HAVE A POSITIVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

HE TURNED THAT SCHOOL AROUND.

THIS IS HOUSING KIDS.

MY KIND OF PEOPLE.

IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PROGRAM, CATCHING THEM AT THE RIGHT AGE, AND GETTING AWARDED FOR POSITIVE ACTIONS.

YOU CAN TURN KIDS AROUND BY JUST GIVING THEM THAT POSITIVE STROKE.

>> Yunji: COUNCILWOMAN.

>> I WANTED TO TAG ON TO THAT.

THIS IS A FUN DISCUSSION FOR ME.

YOU TALKED ABOUT IN 2020 WHEN THEY RELEASED THOSE PRISONERS, I WAS VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO THAT.

I WAS AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AT THAT TIME.

BECAUSE OF COVID WE WERE NOW RELEASING PEOPLE INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND SOME COMMITTED VIOLENT CRIMES OR FATAL CRIMES.

I GO BACK TO IF MORE JUDGES, LIKE PROSECUTOR ATTORNEY ALM, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM.

WE NEED TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT.

THIS IS NOT OKAY TO COMMIT A CRIME AND BE BACK ON THE STREETS.

AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO?

IF WE HAVE FULL PRISONS.

RIGHT NOW CRIMINALS GET OUT LITTLE BAIL.

I THINK IT WAS ACT 231 IN 2016, WHERE I THINK THE THRESHOLD FOR THEFT WAS $300 AND NOW IT'S $750.

SO WE'RE MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO REMAIN ON THE STREET WHEN THEY COMMIT CRIMES.

WE HEAR ABOUT STORIES OF PEOPLE WALKING INTO STORES.

I HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN IT.

THEY SHOPLIFT.

WHEN THEY START FEELING LIKE THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH CRIMES AND BECOME MORE BRAZEN, THEY START COMMITTING MORE VIOLENT CRIMES.

ALTHOUGH PRISONER ARE FULL, IF WE ALLOW THESE THINGS TO CONTINUE HAPPENING, THE TYPES OF CRIMES WILL CONTINUE AND ESCALATE.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

IF WE CONTINUE TO GIVE SLAP ON THE HANDS, IT WILL TURN TO VIOLENT CRIME, WHICH WILL LEAD TO SAFETY ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE ALL EXPERIENCING.

>> I WANT TO SHARE THIS.

A WHILE AGO, THE PRINCIPAL AT HIGH SCHOOL WANTED TO START A PARENTING CLASS.

THE REASON SHE WANTED US TO DO THAT WAS WE HAVE DYSFUNCTIONAL PARENTS RAISING DISFUNCTIONAL KIDS.

AND IF WE DON'T TURN THAT AROUND, WE DON'T TEACH KIDS, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WE HAVE?

GOOD FUNCTIONING FAMILIES.

WE'LL NEVER TURN THIS AROUND.

>> Yunji: AND I HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS FROM ALL SIDES.

I WANT TO ADDRESS HER POINT ABOUT THE JUDICIARY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE STAFFING ISSUES AT HPD.

I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PROSECUTORS EITHER.

TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOUR STAFFING CHALLENGES IMPACT YOUR ABILITY TO GET IN FRONT OF A JUDGE AND MAKE TOUGH CASES AND TO DO THE WORK THAT YOU NEED TO DO?

>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE ABLE TO COVER ALL THE COURTROOMS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF COURTROOMS TO COVER, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE BECAUSE SOME CASES, ALL THE VIOLENT CRIME.

OTHER CASES, WE TRY TO HOLD THE PERSON IN CUSTODY, AND IN 48 HOURS, INVESTIGATE AND GET THEM CHARGED RIGHT AWAY.

WE'D LIKE TO DO MORE AND MORE CASES LIKE THAT.

BECAUSE YOU GET A BETTER RESPONSE IF YOU CAN GET AFTER SOMEBODY QUICKLY.

TO ME, IF SOMEBODY ASSAULTS SOMEBODY ELSE, THEY SHOULD GO TO JAIL FOR THAT FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME.

ONE THING THAT THE LEGISLATURE A FEW YEARS PASSED A LAW THAT ANY ASSAULT ON SOMEBODY 60 YEARS OR OLDER BECOME A CLASS C FELONY, BUT YOU HAVE TO PROVE THAT THE PERPETRATOR KNEW OR HAD REASON TO KNOW THAT THE PERSON WAS 60 YEARS OR OLDER.

OF COURSE, THAT'S VERY SUBJECTIVE.

WHEN PEOPLE GO TO COURT THEY WANT TO LOOK GOOD.

SO THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY IS GOING TO ARGUE, THERE'S NO WAY THIS PERSON COULD BE SEEN AS 60.

AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

WE HAD A BILL AT THE LEGISLATURE, STRICT LIABILITY.

IF THEY'RE 60 OR OVER, THAT ELEMENT IS PROVEN.

WE DON'T HAVE TO PROVE THAT THE PERSON KNEW THAT.

IT PASSED IN THE HOUSE.

IT DIED IN THE SENATE.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO MORE TIME SPENT WITH SENATORS IN THE OFF SEASON TO TRY TO GET THEM TO SEE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT.

WE GOT TO PROTECT OUR KUPUNA.

EVEN IF SOMEBODY LOOKS GOOD, PEOPLE ARE PICKING ON THEM BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY CAN TAKE THEM.

THAT'S WRONG.

WE'RE HOPING WE CAN GET THE LAW CHANGED TO PROTECT THE OLDER FOLKS BETTER.

>> Yunji: A QUESTION ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

WE HAVE SEEN VERY SOME HIGH-PROFILE CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN.

WE HAD THE ACID ATTACK ON THAT WOMAN THAT YOU REFERENCED.

WE HAD THE MOTHER THERESA BEING  SHOT IN FRONT OF HER DAUGHTER AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME, AND WE HAD THIS HORRIFIC MURDERS IN MANOA.

THE CALLER IS SAYING, WHAT ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PREVENT PARTNERS AND THEIR KIDS.

NOT ALL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STEMS FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHEN IT COMES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN?

AND TO BE CLEAR, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAN BE PERPETRATED BY A MAN OR WOMAN.

>> SURE.

I DON'T THINK DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RATES -- IT THINK THEY'RE REDUCING.

THEY'RE DECREASING.

SO WE DON'T SEE A BIG CHANGE FOR THE MOST PART IN THAT REGARD.

AT THE SAME TIME, ON THE POLICE SIDE, WE DO HAVE VERY PROACTIVE METHODS THAT WE DO EMPLOYEE.

EVERY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT WE DO COME ACROSS IS GOING TO RESULT IN EITHER AN ARREST OR WARNING.

WE DO IMPLEMENT AN ASSESSMENT PROCESS, SO EACH CASE WE INTERVIEW THE VICTIM.

WE GO THROUGH A CHECKLIST OF DIFFERENT CRITERIA TO ASSESS HOW LIKELY THEY ARE TO GET HURT AGAIN AND HOW VIOLENT THE PERPETRATOR COULD BE.

AND SO THAT DOES LEAD TO OTHER PROGRAMS, ET CETERA.

FOR HPD, I THINK WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB ASSESSING AND HANDLING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES.

PREVENTING THEM, IF IT HAPPENS IN A HOME, HARD TO PREVENT.

WE HAVE A VERY GOOD ADVOCATE -- VICTIM ADVOCATE NETWORK HERE IN THE ISLANDS.

>> Yunji: DO YOU THINK WE'RE DOING ENOUGH TO PROTECT ESPECIALLY THOSE INCIDENTS I MENTIONED, THOSE ARE HORRIFIC VIOLENT ACTS OPERATED AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

>> I THINK IT'S A CONSTANT LEVEL.

NANCY KRIEDMAN WHO RETIRED FROM THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACTIONS CENTER, AND SHE HAD DONE A GREAT JOB KEEPING THIS IN THE FOREFRONT OF PEOPLE.

THERE ARE GOOD ADVOCATES.

OUR OFFICE, WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CALL 911, TRY TO -- BUT WE'RE GIVING THEM AUTHORITY MORE IF THEY WANT TO PURSUE THE CASE OR NOT.

THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET BEAT UP IF THEY GO HOME FROM APPEARING IN COURT.

WE'RE TRYING TO WORKING WITH THEM.

I WANT TO GO BACK ONE MOMENT TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS REALLY HAPPY ABOUT IS THE EFFORTS TO LEGALIZE COMMERCIAL MARIJUANA.

AND IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY.

WE GOT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

THE MOM AND POP STORES WOULD GET DRIVEN OUT OF BUSINESS ABOUT SELLING MARIJUANA.

IT'S BIG TOBACCO.

THE PARENT USED TO BE PHILLIP MORRIS.

THEY'RE BUYING INTO MARIJUANA STORES.

THAT'S WHAT'S PUSHING IT, BUT THE WEST SIDE REALLY CAME OUT OPPOSING THAT.

WHEN THEY SHOWED UP AND TESTIFIED, IT REALLY HAD AN IMPACT ON THE REPRESENTATIVES TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

WE DON'T WAN THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S FORMER ADDICTS OR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

THERE COULD BE A MARIJUANA HOUSE NEXT TO YOUR HOUSE.

MARIJUANA IS SO MUCH STRONGER THAN IT USED TO BE.

WE'RE NOT AGAINST FUN.

WE'RE NOT THE COOL KIDS.

BUT BACK IN THE DAY WHEN IT WAS 3% IT WASN'T AS BIG A DEAL.

WHEN IT'S 20, 30, 40%, CONCENTRATES OVER 90, IT AFFECTS KIDS' BRAIN.

IT LEAD TO LOSS IN I.Q.

IF SOMEBODY IS AN EVERYDAY USER, YOU HAVE INCREASED RISKS OF HEART ATTACK AND INCREASED RISK OF STROKES.

IT'S A DIFFERENT DRUG THAN IT USED TO BE.

AND SO I WAS IMPRESSED WHEN THE COMMUNITY SHOWED UP AND TESTIFIED, AND I THINK THE LEGISLATORS WERE TOO.

THE SENATE MORE PEOPLE VOTED AGAINST IT.

A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE HOUSE LOOKED AT THE RESEARCH.

SHOWING MORE FATAL CAR COLLISIONS, MORE EVEN VIOLENT CRIME AND MORE KIDS HAVING TROUBLE IN SCHOOL.

THE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO IS GIVE OUR KIDS WHAT'S REALLY A POWERFUL DRUG WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM SUCCEED BOTH IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE AFTER THAT.

>> Yunji: AND WE KNOW YOU AND THE POLICE CHIEF ARE BUILDING THAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

COUNCILMEMBER OKIMOTO, WHAT ARE YOUR COMMUNITIES CONVERSATIONS LIKE?

NOT ABOUT MARIJUANA, IN PARTICULAR, BUT ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> SOME VIOLENT CRIMES UNFORTUNATELY HAPPENED IN MY COMMUNITY.

THEY STEM FROM DOMESTICS VIOLENCE.

SOME OF IT JUST RANDOM.

EVERY COMMUNITY HAS THEIR OWN UNIQUE NEEDS, BUT I THINK EVERY COMMUNITY WANTS TO FEEL SAFE SO THEY TURN TO US.

THEIR CONCERNS STEM TO WHAT CAN WE DO TO WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

A LOT OF EBIKES.

BUT FOR VIOLENT CRIMES, A LOT HAD BEEN COMMITTED IN MY COMMUNITY.

THAT'S ONE REASON WHY THEY'RE FOCUSING IN THAT AREA.

WHAT CAN WE DO ON OUR OWN BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE POLICE OFFICERS AT EVERY MOMENT ON EVERY CURB.

SO THAT'S ONE THING.

WE HAVE HOMELESSNESS INCREASING.

MY COMMUNITY IS UNIQUE.

WE LIVE IN SUBURBIA.

IT'S NOT THE SAME BUT EVERYTHING STEMS BACK.

WE HAVE HOMELESS AND WE HAVE DRUG ABUSE.

SOME OF THOSE CRIMES ARE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

THE RESOURCES JUST HAVE TO BE PUT OUT THERE SO PEOPLE ARE EDUCATED, WHETHER YOU'RE A VICTIM ON THE MALE OR FEMALE SIDE, WHAT CAN WE DO?

IT'S NOT PREJUDICE BASED ON SOCIOECONOMICAL VALUE.

IT HAPPENS IN ALL TYPES OF COMMUNITIES.

SO IN MY COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY, A LOT OF IT IS THE INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME.

BUT EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO SURVIVE AND WORK TOGETHER.

THAT'S WHAT I'M FINDING.

>> Yunji: CALVIN, DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR COMMUNITY HAS ENOUGH OF A VOICE?

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE NEEDS OF YOUR COMMUNITY ARE BEING ADDRESSED, GIVEN HOW MANY VIOLENT INCIDENTS WE'RE SEEING IN THE WAIANAE COAST?

>> I THINK MORE AND MORE OF THE COMMUNITY IS LEARNING TO SPEAK UP.

IT PROBABLY CAME UP SO STRONG AGAINST MARIJUANA IS ALL -- WHEN I MOVED OUT TO WAIANAE IN 1980 AND I STARTED TRACKING DEATHS, BODIES FOUND HERE.

ALL TIED INTO DRUGS OR SOMEBODY CROSSING THE LINE IN THEIR TERRITORY.

BUT THE MORE RECENT DRUG, IT MESSES UP THEIR MORAL COMPASS.

SO SHOOTING SOMEBODY IS NOTHING.

LIKE A VIDEO GAME.

GUY GOING COME BACK TO LIFE OR SOMETHING.

I'M NOT SURE.

OUR COMMUNITY IS TIGHT SO EVERYBODY TALKS, AND MOST VIOLENT DEATHS, ROBBERIES AT THE GAMING ROOMS AND OTHER THINGS IS ALL TIED INTO DRUGS.

>> Yunji: YEAH.

AND WE HAVEN'T TALK THE ABOUT ARE GAME ROOMS.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT COMES UP CONSTANTLY.

YOU HEAR GAME ROOM RAIDS, BUT IT SEEMS AS SOON AS ONE IS RAIDED ANOTHER POPS UP.

HOW IS THE FIGHT ON GAME ROOMS?

>> IT IS TOUGH.

SOMETIMES THEY POP UP UNDETECTED FOR A WHILE.

WITH OUR NARCOTICS VICE DIVISION, THEY'RE PROACTIVE IN JUMPING INTO IT.

ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE HAD ABOUT 180 OR SO GAME ROOMS THEY WERE TRACKING.

THAT REDUCED TO HALF.

THEY'VE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB NOT JUST IDENTIFYING THEM, BUT PROBLEM SOLVING AND START SHUTTING THESE GAME ROOMS DOWN.

NOT JUST THE POLICE SIDE BUT TAKING A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH BY USING LIKE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND PERMITTING TO PULL PERMITS ON BUSINESSES AS WELL.

SO WE'RE USING A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO TRY TO SHUT THESE GAME ROOMS DOWN.

THAT SAID, A LOT OF THE GAME ROOMS, THEY ARE LIKE A HAVEN FOR CRIME.

IT'S MOSTLY DRUG FUELED.

ALTHOUGH THERE IS GAMBLING, BUT IT'S KIND OF A HAVEN FOR THIS CRIMINAL ELEMENT TO HANG OUT AND GET DRUGS.

SORT OF A SECURE AREA FOR THEM.

AND OFTENTIMES, THERE'S GOING TO BE GUNS INVOLVED SO THE GAME ROOMS, THERE'S ROBBERIES FROM ONE GANG TO ANOTHER OR GROUP TO ANOTHER.

THE SECURITY ARE ARMED SO THERE'S A LOT OF SHOOTINGS BETWEEN RIVAL GAME ROOM ESTABLISHMENTS AS WELL.

SO IT IS A PROBLEM.

BUT LIKE I KIND OF MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE A REALLY, REALLY I THINK GOOD CASE CLOSURE RATE.

ALL OF OUR MAJOR VIOLENT CRIMES, LIKE ALL OUR HOMICIDES ARE ALL SOLVED.

ALMOST ALL INVOLVED WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

ALMOST 100% SOLVE RATE.

EVEN SOME OF OUR MAJOR ROBBERIES.

WE PUT A LOT OF GOOD RESOURCES.

WE HAVE A GOOD INTELLIGENCE NETWORK THAT WE UTILIZE.

MAINLY TO OUR CRIME REDUCTION UNITS.

WITH THAT, PLUS BEING AN ISLAND, WE'RE ABLE TO PRETTY MUCH, AT LEAST, IDENTIFY AND CAPTURE A LOT OF OUR CRIMINALS.

WE CAN'T ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF EVERYTHING.

SO NO MATTER WHAT OUR STATS ARE, HOW MANY CASES WE DO CLOSE, IT'S A CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ISSUE.

SO WE'RE HOPING ON THE COURT SIDE, THERE'S GOOD DETERRENCE.

AND EVEN ON THE PRISON SIDE, THERE'S GOOD REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS.

>> WE ASSIGNED A DEPUTY FULL TIME TO WORK WITH NARCO VICE IDENTIFYING THE GAME ROOMS.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S THE POLICE CALLING UP THE GAME ROOM OPERATOR TO SAY, WE'VE IDENTIFIED YOUR LOCATION.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE STEPS TO MOVE AGAINST IT AND THEY'LL SHUT DOWN BASED ON THAT.

BUT IT IS AN EXAMPLE, THAT'S A PREVENTION THING.

PREVENTION IS SO IMPORTANT.

ALL THESE SCHOOLS, IF KIDS ARE GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE UNLESS THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO AFTER SCHOOL.

WHATEVER IT IS, WHETHER IT'S SPORTS, WHETHER IT'S SOME KIND OF ACTIVITY, WE NEED TO INVEST MORE IN THAT SO THEY HAVE THINGS TO DO OR ELSE THEY'RE GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE.

>> Yunji: WE HAVE A LITTLE UNDER FIVE MINUTES LEFT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THIS QUESTION FROM MARY LEE.

I'D LOVE FOR ALL OF YOU TO TAKE IT.

SHE'S CALLING FROM HALEIWA.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LONG-TERM GOALS, BUT WHAT ARE SHORT-TERM GOALS THAT CAN BE DONE TO PROTECT CITIZENS FROM VIOLENT CRIMES?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO MARY LEE?

>> EITHER THAN WHAT WAS ALREADY MENTIONED, TAKING THE COMMUNITY AND WORKING WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY AND POLICING TEAM.

OUR LEGISLATURE, THEY DID SOME GOOD THINGS THIS YEAR.

SENATE BILL, I THINK SB 2347 WHERE WE'RE WORKING ON HOW CAN WE ADDRESS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM?

SHORT TERM, WE'RE HAVING LEGISLATION BE PUT INTO PLACE SO WE CAN KEEP THESE CRIMINALS, HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

AND NEED OUR JUDICIAL SELECTION COMMISSION WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR AND PUTTING IN THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THESE POSITIONS.

BECAUSE THEY WILL BE THE ONES TO NOW HAVE JUDICIAL JURISDICTION OVER PEOPLE WHO COMMIT CRIMES.

IT SEEMS LONG TERM BUT IT'S NOT.

THERE ARE STEPS THAT HAVE TO BE TAKEN BUT IT GO BACK TO WHAT CAN WE DO TO KEEP THEM OFF THE STREETS?

WE HAVE TO START DOING THOSE THINGS.

>> I THINK AS FAR AS SHORT-TERM TACTICS, FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GET INVOLVED AS FAR AS REPORTING.

SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

WE'VE GOT EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS LIKE CrimeStoppers.

OUR 911 DISPATCH TAKES CALLS.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT NUMBERS FOR OUR NARCOTICS VICE DIVISION.

BUT JUST REPORT IT IN BECAUSE WE CAN'T SEE EVERYTHING.

SO IF PEOPLE REPORT WHAT THEY DO SEE, THAT WOULD HELP DIRECT US TO GET THE PROPER RESOURCE TO THEM.

>> Yunji: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO MARY LEE?

WHAT ARE SHORT-TERM GOALS TO PREVENT VIOLENT CRIME?

>> I GUESS PEOPLE IN WAIANAE HAVE GOTTEN TO A POINT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO REPORT IT BECAUSE THEY NOT GOING LET THIS CONTINUE.

THEY'VE BEEN REPORTING MORE AND MORE.

OTHER THING, I THINK, STARTING TO HAP IS WE'RE HAVING MORE POSITIVE PROGRAMS SO YOU KNOW HOW KIDS WERE LOCKED UP SO LONG.

WE NOTICED WHEN WE STARTED TO DO POSITIVE PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY SHOW UP BECAUSE BEING LOCKED UP.

THEY CAN BE KIDS AGAIN.

>> Yunji: YEAH.

THAT DOES SOUND NICE.

PROSECUTOR ALM, WE HAVE ABOUT TWO MINUTES.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO MARY LEE?

WHAT ARE SHORT-TERM WAYS TO PREVENT VIOLENT CRIME?

>> WELL, I WANT TO THANK THE LEGISLATURE FOR PASSING HABITUAL VIOLENT PROPERTY -- I MEAN VIOLENT MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE.

SO IF THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF MISDEMEANOR CASES OR FELONIES, WE CAN THEN CHARGE THEM WITH A CLASS C FELONY.

SO WHAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS YOU CAN BE BEATEN BLACK AND BLUE, BUT IF IT DOESN'T BREAK A BONE, IT'S STILL A MISDEMEANOR.

SO WE DO HAVE SOME ANTISOCIAL PEOPLE WHO WILL GO UP AND PUNCH PEOPLE AND ASSAULT PEOPLE.

IF THEY HAVE LIKE THREE MISDEMEANOR ASSAULT CASES, WE CAN THEN CHARGE THEM WITH A CLASS C FELONY.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE, A, IT GETS THEM OFF THE STREET FOR A WHILE.

AND, B, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON PROBATION FOR FIVE YEARS, FOUR YEARS, YOU CAN DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

YOU CAN DEAL WITH DRUG AND ALCOHOL ISSUES.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHARGE EVERYBODY WHO'S AVAILABLE FOR IT.

WE'LL BE CAREFUL.

WE'LL DO THE HABITUAL PROPERTY OFFENSE THE SAME WAY BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL STEAL EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THEY NEED TO BE LOCKED UP FOR AWHILE.

IF THEY HAVE A DRUG PROBLEM, THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH.

SO JUST LIKE WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THE LEGISLATURE DID A GOOD JOB WITH THAT.

I THINK IT WAS A REALLY GOOD THING THEY PASSED THIS HABITUAL MISDEMEANOR VIOLENCE OFFENSE LAW SO WE CAN TRY TO LOCK UP SOME OF THOSE GUYS AND GET THEIR MINDS STRAIGHT SO THEY STOP ASSAULTING PEOPLE.

>> Yunji: AND HOW LONG DOES SOMETHING LIKE THAT START TO FEEL EFFECT?

WHEN DO WE ACTUALLY GET TO SEE SOME BENEFITS?

>> IT SHOULD KICK IN JULY 1ST LIKE OTHER LAWS, AND THEN WE'LL WORK WITH HPD TO IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THE ONES SO THE NEXT TIME THEY COULD GET PICKED UP FOR SOMETHING, BECAUSE IF THEY PLEAD GUILTY WITH A MISDEMEANOR, WE CAN'T CHARGE WITH A FELONY.

WE'VE GOT TO MOVE REALLY QUICKLY WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

>> Yunji: OKAY, WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS - HONOLULU PROSECUTOR STEVE ALM AND CALVIN ENDO FROM THE WAIANAE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD.

DEPUTY CHIEF KEITH HORIKAWA AND COUNCILMEMBER VAL AQUINO OKIMOTO.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, TRAFFIC SAFETY: FROM SPEED BUMPS TO RED LIGHT CAMERAS...IN RECENT YEARS THERE'S BEEN A WAVE OF NEW INITIATIVES TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER, BUT NOT ALL ARE BEING FULLY EMBRACED BY THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT'S NOT AND WHAT STILL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

PLEASE DO JOIN US THEN.

I'M YUNJI DE NIES FOR INSIGHTS.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, ALOHA.