TRAGEDIES ON OAHU AND HAWAII ISLAND EARLIER THIS YEAR INVOLVING PEDESTRIANS AND REPEAT TRAFFIC OFFENDERS HAVE CAUSED PUBLIC OUTRAGE.

AND RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO KEEP THOSE THAT HABITUALLY CAUSE PROBLEMS ON HIGHWAYS OFF OUR ROADS.

THIS LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVESTREAM OF KAKOU: HAWAII’S TOWN HALL STARTS NOW.

¶¶ ¶¶ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO KAKOU: HAWAII’S TOWN HALL, LIVE FROM THE HARRY AND JEANETTE WEINBERG MULTI‑MEDIA STUDIO.

I’M YUNJI DE NIES.

IT WAS A CASE THAT SADDENED, AND OUTRAGED MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ON FEBRUARY 15TH, TWO STUDENTS WERE WALKING TO SCHOOL IN A MARKED CROSSWALK ON KAPIOLANI BOULEVARD IN HONOLULU WHEN POLICE SAY A DRIVER HIT BOTH, THEN FLED THE SCENE.

16‑YEAR OLD SARA YARA DIED THAT MORNING.

AFTER THE SUSPECTED DRIVER TURNED HIMSELF IN, RECORDS REVEALED HE HAD 164 TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS DATING BACK TO 1996.

WE HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO NAME HIM TONIGHT AS HE HAS NOT YET BEEN CHARGED.

ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS, HE WAS STOPPED 18 TIMES FOR DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE, INCLUDING IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR ‑ JUST OVER A MONTH BEFORE SARA YARA DIED.

THAT JANUARY CASE IS STILL PENDING.

HE WAS ALSO CITED 23 TIMES FOR DRIVING WITHOUT INSURANCE, 32 TIMES FOR SPEEDING, 7 FOR DISREGARDING RED SIGNALS, AND 4 TIMES FOR RACING.

OVER THE YEARS, HE HAS PAID A NUMBER OF FINES, BUT WAS NEVER SENTENCED TO JAIL TIME.

THE VERY SAME WEEK SARA YARA WAS KILLED, THERE WAS ANOTHER HIT AND RUN CASE YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD ABOUT IN KONA, ON HAWAII ISLAND.

THAT’S WHERE A 73‑YEAR OLD MAN WAS IN A MARKED CROSSWALK WHEN HE WAS HIT AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

POLICE SAY THE DRIVER FLED THE SCENE AND WAS LATER ARRESTED FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF AN INTOXICANT.

THAT SUSPECTED DRIVER IS ALSO A REPEAT TRAFFIC OFFENDER WITH TWO DUIS AND WAS STOPPED FOR DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE OR WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE FIVE TIMES IN THE LAST TWO DECADES.

SO THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE KEEP HABITUAL OFFENDERS OFF OUR ROADS?

KAKOU MEANS ALL OF US, AS IN WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER BECAUSE ANY ONE OF US COULD BE IN A TRAFFIC INCIDENT WITH A DRIVER LIKE THIS.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU IN OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE’RE ALSO STREAMING LIVE AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND ON THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE PAGES.

IN OUR TOWN HALL TONIGHT, WE HAVE A CROSS‑SECTION OF PEOPLE WHO WORK IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ‑ FROM TWO POLICE CHIEFS, TO HONOLULU’S LEAD PROSECUTOR, DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, THE PAROLING AUTHORITY, AND A RETIRED JUDGE.

WE ALSO HAVE THE HEAD OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, A SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR, AND THE PARENTS OF TWO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES ON OUR ROADS.

BEFORE WE BEGIN, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER.

>> SARA, SHE WAS ONE OF MY TWINS.

SHE LOVED LIFE AND SHE LOVED HER FRIENDS.

SHE STARTED GOLFING WHEN SHE WAS 3‑AND‑A‑HALF YEARS OLD.

SHE DID A LITTLE BIT OF GOLFING IN HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT END UP LOVING VOLLEYBALL.

SHE STARTED PLAYING VOLLEYBALL IN HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE LOVED GOING TO SCHOOL WITH HER FRIENDS ON THE BUS BECAUSE THEY JOUST HANG OUT BEFORE THEY GET TO SCHOOL AND TALK STORY.

SARA LOVED WATCHING HER NCIS AND ALL OF THESE CRIMINAL CASE.

WE THOUGHT ONE DAY, SHE WOULD BE A POLICE OFFICER OR FBI BUT THAT WASN'T HER GOAL.

HER GOAL WAS TO BE COMPUTER ENGINEER.

SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO BE LIKE HER COUSIN THAT'S IN DENVER, COLORADO.

SHE NEVER MADE IT THERE.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT.

>>Yunji: AND FOR SHARING SOME OF HER MEMORY WITH US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WANT TO TURN NOW TO HONOLULU POLICE CHIEF JOE LOGAN.

THIS CASE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

I'M SURE YOU'RE LIMITED WHAT YOU CAN TELL US.

BUT WHAT CAN YOU SHARE WITH US ABOUT THIS CASE?

>> THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT CASE.

ON BEHALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR HEARTS AN SYMPATHIES OUT TO YOUR FAMILY AND WARNER FAMILY THAT ALSO HERE.

ALL THOSE THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONE BECAUSE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT DON'T TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES DO THE RIGHT THING.

FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS DIFFERENT AND NOT IN COORDINATION OR IN WHAT SOCIETY NORMS ARE.

SO THEY CHOOSE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT COST OTHER PEOPLE AS LIVES.

THIS INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING.

AS WAS STATED EARLIER, THE INDIVIDUAL FLED THE SCENE.

WAS LATER ARRESTED.

AND THEN RELEASED PENDING FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

AS YOU KNOW, TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS ARE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER CRIMINAL VISION INVESTIGATION.

A LONG PROCESS.

A LOT OF SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO GO FOR CHARGES AND THAT'S WHY THIS CASE IS STILL PENDING.

>>Yunji: I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE JUST SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT'S TAKEN SO LONG AND THAT'S STILL TAKING SO LONG.

WHY WE'VE CHOSEN NOT TO NAME THE INDIVIDUAL.

TYPICALLY, HOW LONG DO INVESTIGATIONS LIKE THIS TAKE?

>> I THINK BEN WOULD PROBABLE BETTER ONE TO ANSWER THIS.

OR CHIEF BEN.

MAJOR TRAFFIC DIVISION.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE QUIET A WHILE BECAUSE OF COMPLEXITY OF INVESTIGATION SUCH AS THIS.

HOW IS THE VEHICLE OPERATIONS?

WHAT MECHANICAL ISSUES OR CONCERNS WITH THERE WITH THE VEHICLE?

MEASUREMENTS NEED TO BE TAKEN AT THE SCENE REPROVICE MEASUREMENTS WHERE EVERYBODY INVOLVED, EVIDENCE RECOVERED, HOW WAS THAT THAT TAKES A LOT LONG TIME PART OF INVESTIGATION.

>>Yunji: BEN IS THE HAWAII ISLAND POLICE CHIEF.

ALSO, SERVED HPD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE TRAFFIC DIVISION.

TYPICALLY HAVING DONE THESE INVESTIGATIONS, HOW LONG DO THEY TAKE?

>> THAT'S ALSO TRUE IN ANY COMPLICATED CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

CRIME SCENES VICTIMS WITNESS, LIKE CHIEF LOGAN SAID, THIS COLLISION AND ALL THESE COLLISIONS THAT CLAIM LIVES OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TO BRUSH THEM OFF AS ACCIDENTS.

REALLY VERY IMPACTFUL TO BE HERE AND BE IN THE ROOM AND HEAR THE STORY OF THE VICTIM WHO ACTUALLY PERISHED IN THIS COLLISION.

CASES ARE COMPLICATED.

INVESTIGATORS ARE STRAINED VERY WELL.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.

TRAINED VERY WELL.

CHALLENGE WITH TAKING CRIMINAL CASE IN THIS CASE FAILURE TO RENDER AID CASE, A FELONY OR B FELONY CASE, THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ON ALL THE COUNTIES HAVE DIFFERENT CHARGING CRITERIA.

WHAT CASES THEY'RE GOING TO ACCEPT.

IN CUSTODY AND WHAT CASES THEY'RE GOING TO ACCEPT AS ADD ON CASES OR CASES THAT WILL BE CONFERRED AT A LATER DATE, BOILS TO THE OFFENDER, CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS.

CONVICTED FELON, PROBATION OR PAROLE, DOESN'T HAVE ADDRESS, VISITOR, GET BUMPED UP PRIORITY LIST THOSE CASES ARE TYPICALLY CHARGED A LOT MORE QUICKLY.

OTHER CASES WHERE AGAIN, SUSPECT IN CASE HAS HUNDREDS OF TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS AND INFRACTIONS AND MAYBE EVEN CONVICTIONS.

BUT IT'S NOT REALLY LOOKED AT THE SAME WAY I GUESS, AND THROUGH NO FAULT OF PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, THERE ARE A LOT OF CASES AND LINED UP THERE.

BUT THE INVESTIGATION PART ITSELF CAN ACTUALLY BE DONE IN A MATTER OF WEEKS.

TAKE PLACE WITH HERE IN HONOLULU, ON THE BIG ISLAND AS WELL, IS A LOT OF TIMES CASES LINGER FOR YEARS.

MONTHS TO A YEAR EVEN BEFORE THE PROSECUTOR'S HAVE TIME ON CALENDAR TO GET CASES CONFERRED BECAUSE COMPLICATED SCIENCE AND OTHER EXPERTS HAVE TO FLY NEXT EXPERTS FROM THE MAINLAND.

OTHER ASPECTS OF THE CASE.

TO THE PROSECUTOR'S CREDIT, THE REASON THAT WE DO THAT IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ONCE WE FILE THAT CASE, SCIENCE AND EVIDENCE ROCK SOLID.

MAKE SURE THAT CASE IS GOING TO END IN A CONVICTION.

VERY IMPORTANT TO PUT AS MUCH INTO THAT INVESTIGATION AS POSSIBLE.

TO MAKE SURE MAY WE GET THAT OUTCOME WE WANT.

HOPEFULLY, THERE'S A CONVICTION AND SOME SORT OF DETERRENT EFFECT.

TO THE PROSECUTOR STEVE ALM WITH US TONIGHT.

RECORD OF THIS DRIVER THAT WE LAID OUT IN A GRAPHIC, 164 CITATIONS, SIMPLY STUNNING.

BEGS THE QUESTION, WHY WAS THIS INDIVIDUAL AT NO POINT OVER THOSE MANY YEARS, SENT TO JAIL.

WHEN YOU SEE THAT, HOW DO YOU REACT?

>> WELL, BECAUSE NOBODY BEEN CHARGED IN THIS CASE, THAT WOULD BE TRYING THAT PERSON TONIGHT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

BUT SPEAKING IN GENERAL NUMBER OF IRRESPONSIBLE PEOPLE WHO RACK UP LOTS OF CHARGES.

AND PART OF IT IS IN THE WHOLE DECRIMINALIZATION EFFORT TOOK PLACE A COUPLE OF DECADES AGO, IT MAKES THE SYSTEM WORK EASIER, PEOPLE GET A TICKET, DON'T HAVE GO TO COURT.

MAIL IT IN.

SO OFTEN IF PEOPLE HAVE 100 SOMETHING OF CONVICTIONS, 80% OF THEM MAY BE OF THAT TYPE.

WHEN A TRAGEDY OCCURS, THERE HAVE BEEN HORRENDOUS COLLISIONS OVER THE YEARS, YOU'VE GOT TWO PARENTS HERE TODAY, BUT I HAVE TO SAY WHEN THE HIT AND RUN ON KAPIOLANI HAPPENED, I THINK IT MADE A NUMBER OF US AGENCY HEADS LOOK AND SEE WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY.

WE HAVE ALREADY CHANGED OUR POLICIES IN TRAFFIC COURT.

>>Yunji: TELL US ABOUT THAT.

WHAT HAVE YOU CHANGED.

>> WHAT WE ARE GOING TRY TO DO IS BRING, INSTITUTE THE CONCEPT OF DETERRENTS.

WHEN CRIMINAL ‑‑ I WAS A JUDGE FOR 15 YEARS.

BEFORE YOU ISSUE A SENTENCE, AND JUDGE LEE WAS AS WELL, FACTORS TO CONSIDER.

THAT INCLUDES PERSON'S RECORD, THAT INCLUDES DETERRENTS, THAT INCLUDES PUNISHMENT THAT IS GOING TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC.

SO WE ARE GOING TO FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS, FOR DRIVING WITHOUT LICENSE NO INSURANCE, GOING TO BE ASKING FOR JAIL TIME.

NOT TYPICALLY SOMETHING IN STATE DISTRICT COURT.

VIRTUALLY NEVER HAPPENED EAS.

FOUND HAVE FRUSTRATED WHEN WAS A PROSECUTOR THERE.

FRUSTRATED NOW.

GOING TO TRIAL ON A LOT MORE CASES, I THINK, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK DEFENDANTS ARE GOING TO PLEAD GUILTY IF THEY KNOW JAIL MIGHT BE IN THE OFFING.

SO A LOT OF THESE CHARGES DO ALLOW FOR JAIL WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE CONVICTIONS.

SO WHICH ARE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR THAT.

WE ARE HOPING JUDGES STEP UP BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO VIOLENT CRIME, YOU CAN ASK THE OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE HERE, I DON'T THINK ARE DETERRENTS.

BEFORE SOMEBODY HIT SOMEBODY IN THE HEAD WITH A BEER BOTTLE, MIGHT DO TIME.

SEE FRED DOWN THE ROAD.

WHEN IT'S WHITE COLLAR CRIME, POLITICAL CORRUPTION OR PEOPLE SO IRRESPONSIBLE THEY DON'T GET A LICENSE, THEY DON'T GET INSURANCE.

AND THEY'RE THUMBING THEIR NOSE REST OF THE PUBLIC.

IF THEY KNEW HAD A GOOD CHANCE GOING TO JAIL.

I WOULD STOP SOME MUCH THAT BEHAVIOR.

>>Yunji: GO TO JUDGE LEE.

QUESTION FROM, I WANT TO BRING IN THE AUDIENCE.

GET SOME OF THIS IN AS WELL.

THOMAS SAYS NO QUESTION THAT ANYONE WHO DOES THIS SHOULD BE PROSECUTED AND KEPT IN JAIL.

JUDGE RANDALL LEE, RETIRED CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, LAW PROFESSOR AT HAWAII PACIFIC UNIVERSITY.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S CHANGES THAT STEVE ALM IS TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WHAT DISCRETION DO JUDGES HAVE?

WHAT IS THE JUDICIARY ROLE IN ALL OF THIS?

>> UNFORTUNATE THING IS HAS TO TAKE AN EVENT, TRAGIC EVENT LIKE THIS, BEFORE PEOPLE REACT.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM IS THAT WE ARE NOT BEING PROACTIVE.

IN TERMS OF WE KNOW THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

AND WE WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS BEFORE WE DO SOMETHING.

BUT STEVE IS CORRECT.

AS A JUDGE, WE LIKE TO CONSIDER ALL OF THE FACTORS OF A PARTICULAR OFFENDER THAT COMES BEFORE US.

IT'S EASY TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO THROW THEM IN JAIL.

BUT EVENTUALLY, THAT PERSON WILL BE RELEASED.

AND UNFORTUNATE THING IS ONCE THAT PERSON IS RELEASED, NO WAY TO STOP THAT PERSON JUMPING INTO ANOTHER CAR.

UNFORTUNATE REALITY OF IT.

THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE OFFENDERS GENERALLY FEEL THAT THINK DO THEIR TIME, THEY WON'T GET CAUGHT, I MEAN, JUST LOOK AT THE CARS ON THE ROAD TODAY, LOOK HOW MANY EXPIRED SAFETY CHECKS.

EXPIRED REGISTRATION.

PEOPLE GOT CARE BECAUSE THE STEVE SAID, A LOT OF THE OFFENDERS AND DISTRICT COURT GENERALLY DON'T GET JAIL.

>>Yunji: YOU'RE SAYING THAT EVEN WITH JAIL, YOU DON'T NECESSARY THINK THAT WILL BE ENOUGH OF A DETERRENT EVEN WITH JAIL?

>> STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IT WILL DETER SOME.

BUT YOU WILL HAVE THOSE OFFENDERS THAT WILL JUST TOTALLY DO THEIR TIME AND DISREGARD THE LAW.

>> CAN I ADD ON?

IN PREPARATION FOR TONIGHT, KIND OF ASKED JUDICIARY FOR SOME DATA.

FROM THEIR DATABASE.

PUBLIC AVAILABLE.

GOOGLE ECOURT KOKUA.

CURIOUS IF ANYBODY ON THE PANEL HAS ANY IDEA TRIVIA QUESTION, LOOKED AT CASES 2017 TO 2021.

MOST OF THE CASES, DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE, DUI CASE, RUN THEIR COURSE.

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS EITHER UP OR CASES BEEN RESOLVED.

>> 2021 STATEWIDE, HAD 15,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER CITED FOR ARRESTED FOR DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

>> CASES MADE IT INTO JUDICIARY.

SHOULD HAVE APPEAR ON A DOCKET SOMEWHERE.

SHOCK YOU IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER.

LESS THAN 20% OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE CONVICTED.

78 TO 80% MORE OF THEM WERE DISMISSED OR RELEASED OR SOME OF OTHER KIND OF DISPOSITION THAT DID NOT END IN ANY KIND CONVICTION OR ACCOUNTABILITY.

ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT CHANGING THE IDEA, CHANGING CONCEPT, BUT ALSO, RELY ESSENTIAL TO TALK ABOUT IF WE'RE DEALING WITH A PROBLEM TO AT LEAST IDENTIFY WHAT THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM IS.

DIFFERENT COUNTIES ARE DIFFERENT.

NUMBERS ARE LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY.

ON OAHU, LITTLE OVER 10,000 DRYING WITHOUT A LICENSE CASE.

LESS THAN 2% OF THOSE PEOPLE ACTUALLY WERE PROSECUTED.

DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

98.9% OF THOSE CASE WERE DISMISSED.

I'M NOT POINTING FINGER ANYBODY IN THE ROOM.

TALK ABOUT SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM, THAT'S A HUMUNGOUS PROBLEM.

>>Yunji: HOW DOES THAT ONE GO ABOUT DEPENDING THAT KIND OF A PROBLEM.

STATE DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER.

>> YOU ARE SOMEONE TASKED IN OUR COMMUNITY IN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM, EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO A DEFENSE.

WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER FOLKS OVER 10,000 CHIEF IS TALKING ABOUT, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STORIES THAT YOU HEAR AND WHAT KIND OF OFFENSE FOR THAT BEHAVIOR.

>> NEED TO MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN HABITUAL DEFENDERS, GET BEHIND THE WHEEL, DANGEROUS RECKLESS EXPERIENCE IN MY EXPERIENCE, HABITUAL OFFENDERS PEOPLE GETTING CITED FOR DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE, STORY WE HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN, EXPENSIVE TO HAVE A CAR HERE IN HONOLULU.

YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR YOUR CAR REGISTRATION.

PAY FOR INSURANCE.

PAY FOR SAFETY CHECK EVERY YEAR.

SO IF YOU FALL BEHIND IN THAT, YOU GET CITED FOR THAT.

YOU CAN'T PAY THAT TICKET YOU GET A STOPPER ON YOUR LICENSE.

EVENTUALLY, YOUR LICENSE GOING TO EXPIRE.

AND YOU CAN'T RENEW UNTIL YOU PAY OFF THAT STOPPER.

FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, FINANCIALLY STABLE, THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE.

PAY THESE THINGS.

THEY'RE FINE.

GO ABOUT THEIR LIVES.

MOST OF OUR CLIENT NOT FINANCIALLY STABLE.

MAKE DIFFICULT CHOICES ABOUT WHETHER TO PUT FOOD ON TABLE FOR KIDS OR PAY THEIR LICENSE STOPPERS.

MOST OF OUR CLIENTS WANT TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THE LAW, MOST OF OUR CLIENTS ARE NOT DANGEROUS DRIVERS.

IF THEIR SAFETY CHECK IS EXPIRED GET PULLED OVER.

DOESN'T PENN THEY WERE SPEEDING OR DRIVING RECKLESSLY.

INCURS FINES.

PUTS THEM INTO A CYCLE WHERE THEY CAN NEVER DIG THEMSELVES OUT OF IT.

MOST OF OUR CLIENTS WANT TO FIND A WAY TO BE COMPLIANT.

TO MAYBE DO COMMUNITY SERVICE OR HAVE SOME OTHER OPTIONS.

I THINK THAT WILL TAKE MORE THAN JUST THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO HELP PUT THEM BACK ON TRACK.

SOMETHING LOVE TO SEE MORE OF COMMUNITY EFFORT INTO DOING.

I ALSO SAY THAT THERE AREN'T A LOT OF OTHER OPTIONS IF YOU DON'T DRIVE.

I UNDERSTAND WE BUS SYSTEM.

BUT FOR PEOPLE THAT MAYBE WORK CONSTRUCTION JOBS OR WORK NIGHT TIME HOUR, BUS IS NOT A REALISTIC OPTION.

LIVE IN A PLACE ISN'T PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CHOICE.

IF YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE MONEY TO PAY YOUR FINES OFF, YOU HAVE GO TO WORK.

IT'S A TOUGH QUESTION FOR A LARGER GROUP.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING IN ERICK SEITZ ON THIS.

PRIVATE ATTORNEY HERE IN HONOLULU.

WHAT ARE YOU ARE THOUGHTS ABOUT STIFFENING PENALTIES AND WHAT DO YOU THINK HOW DO YOU MOUNT A DEFENSE FOR SOMEONE WITH A RECORD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT?

>> I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DEFEND SOMEBODY WHO HAS THAT KIND OF RECORD TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I DON'T THINK I WOULD DO THAT.

PRELIMINARILY, HEARTBROKEN ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE.

I KNOW PEOPLE WHO KNEW SARA, WHOSE KID WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HER, DEEPLY AFFECTED BY THIS.

I LIVE AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE YOUNG MAN WHO IS SUSPECTED OF BEING INVOLVED IN THIS AND I'VE KNOWN HIS FAMILY FOR 30 SOME YEARS.

SO I LOOK AT THIS AS INCREDIBLE TRAGEDY AND I HOPE THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL EMBRACE IT FROM THAT STANDPOINT.

NO WAY THAT I CAN COMPREHEND GOING THROUGH THIS AS A PARENT AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE DO SURVIVE THIS KIND OF SITUATION.

WE AS A SOCIETY SEE THESE THINGS HAPPEN AND WE DON'T TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY.

WE DON'T GO TO THE LEGISLATURE OR THE CITY COUNCIL AND DEMAND THE KIND OF RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN HANDLE THESE SITUATIONS AT EARLIER STAGE.

JUDICIARY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO PROCESS THESE CASES AND SEE TO THERE'S FOLLOW‑UP.

THERE'S COUNSELING.

THERE'S SUPERVISION.

FOR EVERYBODY WHO GETS CHARGED REPEATEDLY WITH DRUNK DRIVING OR DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES.

I DON'T HAPPEN TO THINK THAT THOSE PEOPLE ALL OF THEM FOR THE REASONS THAT TEAL JUST SAID, OUGHT TO BE INCARCERATED OR THAT'S THE ANSWER.

SOCIAL PROGRAMS COUNSELING PROGRAMS THERAPY PROGRAMS FOR THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES TO PROVIDE THE KIND OF SUPPORT AND ENVIRONMENT THAT ENABLES THEM TO STOP ENGAGING IN THE KIND OF IRRESPONSIBLE CONDUCT THAT THEY DO.

WE AS A SOCIETY MAKE CHOICES.

WE DON'T WANT TO PUT MONEY AND RESOURCES INTO THE KIND OF PROGRAMS THAT WILL MAKE OUR STREETS SAFE AND THAT WILL PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.

FROM THESE KINDS OF EVENTS.

AND UNTIL WE TURN AROUND OUR PRIORITIES, AND INVEST MORE MONEY IN THE KINDS OF PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE FAR MORE PERVASIVE TO PROTECT PEOPLE, AND TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO WORK WITH OFFENDERS, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIND THESE TRAGEDIES POPPING UP.

>>Yunji: I WANT GO TO FRED.

CHAIR OF HAWAII PAROLING AUTHORITY.

YOU ARE TASKED WITH ASSESSING RISK AND FIGURING OUT WHETHER SOMEONE WILL REOFFEND.

YOU KNOW I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO FOCUS JUST ON THIS INDIVIDUAL.

BUT REALLY, MINDSET OF SOMEONE WHO REPEATS THE SAME INFRACTION AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

HARD FOR A LOT OF US TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

FROM YOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE MINDSET OF SOMEONE WHO BEHAVE THIS WAY?

>> YOU HAVE REPEAT OFFENDERS.

SOME WHO FOR WHATEVER REASON, DRUGS OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, LACK OF FAMILY SUPPORT, OR COMMUNITY SUPPORT, CONTINUALLY REOFFEND.

SO WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED FELONS, WHO DO DRIVE WITHOUT LICENSE.

WHO DO DRIVE DRUNK.

AND WHO HAVE POLICE CONTACT.

THOSE ARE THE TYPES THAT THE PAROLE OFFICER WILL NOTE AND WE WILL HAVE TO GENERALLY ISSUE A NO BAIL WARRANT, AND HAVE THEM TAKEN BACK.

JUST TO BE SAFE.

PEOPLE SOMETIMES SAY, YOU'RE PULLING GUY BACK ON TECHNICAL VIOLATION.

SURE MAY.

BE A TECHNICAL VIOLATION.

BUT IT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT REASONS WHY A PERSON MAY BE HABITUAL OFFENDER OR REPEAT OFFENDER.

>>Yunji: I SAW YOU WANTED TO JUMP IN THERE.

>> FROM MY STANDPOINT, LOOKING AT HOW MUCH IS SOCIETY OR RESIDENTS IN THE CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU, WHAT IS THEIR TOLERANCE TO ALLOWING THIS TO CONTINUE?

WHEN DO WE START GOING TO ELECTED OFFICIAL.

START GOING TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND SAYING HEY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

GOT DO MORE.

SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT WE'RE NOT DOING.

WHAT ARE WE NOT DOING?

YOU KNOW, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A MULTILEGGED STOOL.

EACH ONE OF US THAT WILL HERE DOESN'T HAVE OTHER THAN OUR TWO FAMILY MEMBERS EVEN THE COMMUNITY HAS A LEG OF THE STOOL.

IF WE'RE NOT ALL IN SYNC WORKING PROPERLY, OUT OF BALANCE.

HOW DO WE ALL GET THIS BACK IN BALANCE AND SO HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, THOSE THAT ARE REHABILITATABLE AND THAT WILL NOT OFFEND AGAIN, WE ALLOW THEM THROUGH WHATEVER PROCESSES THERE ARE.

WHETHER THAT'S SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR OTHER WAY TO ENSURE THEY WON'T REOFFEND.

THOSE HAVE THE REHABILITATION, CONTINUE TO REOFFEND NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

THAT'S WHAT THESE FAMILIES ARE GRIEVING RIGHT NOW.

PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

WE HAVE THE SITUATION WE'RE IN NOW.

HOW DO WE DO THAT?

I AGREE WITH MR. SEITZ UNDERSTANDING WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIX ALL THE PROBLEMS.

JUST ONE SIMPLE SOLUTION IS NOT GOING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.

BUT WE NEED TO AS A COMMUNITY, AS RESIDENTS OF THE CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU, COME TOGETHER AND BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS AS A COMMUNITY.

>>Yunji: THAT IS REALLY WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT.

TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS IS REALLY NOT JUST OAHU ISSUE.

THIS IS A STATEWIDE PROBLEM.

STARTED OUT TALKING ABOUT THAT CASE IN KONA.

CHIEF IS HERE FROM HAWAII ISLAND.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT CASE?

>> AGAIN, NOT A WHOLE LOT OF DETAILS ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR CASE.

IT'S INTERESTING WHEN YOU FLASH THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS AND NUMBER OF CITATIONS AND NUMBER OF VIOLATIONS, AGAIN THAT'S ALL PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION.

SEARCH BY NAME.

OTHER PART THAT'S KIND OF INTERESTING WHAT IS IN THERE AND WHAT SEEMS LIKE VERSUS WHAT THE ACTUAL CASES ARE.

CASE DON'T GET FILED.

ARREST NOT ACCEPTED.

CASE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

>> CASE PENDING, NOT GOING TO BE ANYTHING IN E COURT KOKUA ON THAT PARTICULAR CASE.

EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUAL STORIES.

CHIEF LOGAN AND MR. SEITZ TALKING ABOUT IT, ABILITY OF THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE INVESTMENT IN TAKING PEOPLE WHO ARE FIRST OR SECOND OR THIRD TIME OFFENDERS, AND FIGURE OUT THAT THAT SECRET SAUCE TO REHABILITATE THEM.

GET THEM OUT OF THE THAT CYCLE, PUBLIC DEFENDER THAT'S THE KEY TO THIS CONVERSATION.

HOW CAN WE PROMPT LEGISLATORS TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT AND I WISH I KNEW WHAT THAT INVESTMENT WAS AND WHAT IT WOULD ENTAIL.

IF WE KNEW WHAT THAT THING WAS, AT THIS POINT, GROWN TO EPIDEMIC.

>> I DON'T THINK ANY IDEAS IS BASICALLY TOO CRAZY TO AT LEAST TRY.

>>Yunji: I'M INTERESTED, ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES AS FAR AS WE KNOW, BETWEEN WHAT HAPPENED IN KONA AND WHAT HAPPENED HERE ON OAHU, IS THE INTOXICANTS AS FAR AS WE KNOW.

OF COURSE CASES ARE STILL PENDING.

SPEAK BROADLY, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOU DID A LOT OF WORK WITH MADD, MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING HOW OFTEN IS SUBSTANCE ABUSE PART OF THESE CASES.

>> 50 TO 60%.

WHEN YOU INCLUDE ALCOHOL AND DRUGS.

OTHER COMMONALITY BETWEEN THE TWO CASES TALKED ABOUT TODAYER ARE BOTH OF THOSE CASES HIT HIT‑AND‑RUN.

BOTH FAILURE TO RENDER AID CASE WHERE SUSPECT REGARDLESS PERSON WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OR NOT, THAT PERSON COMMITTED THAT CRIME AND THEN FLED.

MAYBE THAT IS THE ANGLE.

MAYBE IT'S THOSE KIND CASES WE ATTACK FIRST AND LOOK AT ENHANCEMENT IN THOSE CASES.

THAT'S CERTAIN A MUCH SMALLER SUBSET.

AT LEAST 50% OF THESE CASES STATEWIDE INVOLVE EITHER ALCOHOL OR DRUGS OR COMBINATION OF BOTH SUBSTANCES IS THAT ISSUE.

GO TO ROBERT LOCKLEAR.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR.

HEARD FRED YOUNG THOUGHTS ABOUT RECIDIVISM AND IDEA OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

CHIEF MENTIONING THERE.

FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES, ARE SOME OF THE ENHANCEMENTS THAT STEVE ALM SUGGESTING, INCREASING JAIL TIME, AND THINGS LIKE THAT IS THAT A DETERRENT OR IS THERE ANOTHER WAY?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF RESEARCH OUT THERE, ALOE OF CLINICAL RESEARCH, EVIDENCE BASED RESEARCH WHERE HIGHER THE CONSEQUENCE, MORE MANDATED LEGAL RECOMMENDATION FOR TREATMENT INCREASES CHANCES OF SUCCESS.

AS A SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR WORKING ALONGSIDE PROBATION OFFICERS, PAROLE OFFICERS, WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO HELP THIS INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS LIKE THIS PERSON, TO HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIORS.

IF NOT, THERE AREN'T ANY RESOURCES AVAILABLE, THE SYSTEM, CYCLE IS JUST GOING TO CONTINUE.

>>Yunji: STEVE?

>> WELL, WHEN IT COMES TO FELONIES ALL BEING PUT ON PROBATION.

BUT FRANKLY, WE FIGURED OUT A WAY TO REALLY REDUCE SUBSTANCE ABUSE WITH HOPE PROBATION.

THAT MEANS PROBATION OFFICERS GIVING QUICK CONSEQUENCES, AND PEOPLE RESPONDING TO THAT.

FORTUNATELY, JUDICIARY GETTING AWAY FROM THAT AND IT'S NOT WORKING THE SAME WAY.

BUT IN MISDEMEANORS, WHAT BEING DISCUSSED EARLIER, NOT EVEN BEING PUT ON PROBATION.

THEY NEED TO BE PUT ON PROBATION TO GET SERVICES WHETHER IT'S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, DRUGS AND ALCOHOL SERVICES, COURTS CAN PLAY A MAJOR ROLE AND USE LEVERAGE OF THE COURT SYSTEM TO HELP PEOPLE GET BETTER.

>> STEVE'S OFFICE, COURTS UNDERSTAFFED.

>> PROBATION OFFICERS IN UNDERSTAFFED.

>> AND THEY CAN'T MAINTAIN THE KIND OF DAY‑TO‑DAY CONTACT OR PROVIDE COUNSELING AND THERAPY OR REFERRALS FOR HELP TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

SO WITH YOU TALK ABOUT INVESTMENT, WE REALLY NEED TO INVEST A LOT MONEY IN BEEFING UP THE STAFF, OF THE COURTS, OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, OF OTHER PEOPLE, SO CASES DON'T GET LOST IN THE CRACKS.

DISMISSAL OF CASES FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PROCESSED PROPERLY, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PROCESSED IN TIME, ALL OF THE TECHNICAL REASONS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO FALL INTO THE CRACKS, AND WALK AWAY DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY PRESENTED DANGER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO PREVENT THAT BY MAKING SURE WE HAVE ADEQUATE PEOPLE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT THESE OFFENDERS NEED AND COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE SAFER.

MIGHT WANT TO BRING IN MR. WARNER ON THIS.

BEFORE WE GET TO KAULANA LAW, A LOT OF TALK ABOUT CHANGE THE LAWS.

YOU WERE SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SON.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOLKS AND WE HAVE EXPERTS HERE TONIGHT THAT CAN ADDRESS A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN OUR STATE.

KAULANA WAS, HE WAS 19 YEARS OLD.

HAPPY‑GO‑LUCKY KID.

APRIL 24, 2016, I CAME OUT 8:34.

JUST STARTED GETTING DARK.

I HEARD SOMETHING LIKE A TRASH CAN GOT HIT.

I CAME OUT.

THEN I JUST TALKED TO HIM.

GOING TO GO RUN.

BUT HE WAS WHEN YOUR HEART DROPS JUST GET THIS FEELING IN NEW THAT SOMETHING BAD GOING TO HAPPEN.

I GOT ACROSS THE STREET, CAME UPON HIM.

AND IT WAS HIM.

FOR ME, I GOT TO HOLD HIM.

AND LET HIM TAKE HIS LAST BREATH.

SO HE DIED IN MY ARMS.

YOU KNOW, AS A FATHER, THAT'S THE MOST DEVASTATING THING.

YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE.

WE COME INTO THIS WORLD HAVING OUR KIDS TO LAY US DOWN TO REST.

NOT US LAYING THEM DOWN.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.

LAY HIM DOWN TO REST.

IT WAS A TRAGIC FOR ME, MY WHOLE FAMILY, AND OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE HE WAS VERY LOVED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

HE WOULD GIVE HIS SHIRT OFF HIS BACK.

I KNOW TIMES WHEN HE WAS AT THE BEACH AND HE GOT TO SAVE SOME TOURISTS IN THE WATER.

HE LOVED THE WATER.

HE WAS A WATER, HE LOVED SURFING.

BOOGIE BOARDING AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE WATER.

AND HE CAME HOME AND SAY, DAD, I SAVED THIS TOURIST.

I SAID, BOY, GOOD.

>> THAT'S GOD'S WORK.

WHAT YOU DID.

AND HE WAS SO LOVABLE.

HE WAS A BIG PART WITHIN OUR FAMILY.

HE WAS LOVED BY THE WHOLE FAMILY.

I GOT GRANDKIDS NOW AND I GOT DAUGHTERS.

THAT'S LIKE TRAGIC THING THAT WHAT WE LOST, WE GOT GUYS THAT COMMIT THIS TYPE OF CRIME.

WHETHER KILL OR, AND THEY SECOND CHANCES.

I'M FOR SECOND CHANCE.

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I'M NEVER GOING TO GET, SECOND CHANCE TO HAVE MY SON WALK THROUGH THE DOOR.

OR EVEN GET MARRIED OR HAVE GRANDKIDS YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

I DON'T WANT ANYBODY ELSE TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH.

I MEAN, CAUSE BECAUSE IT'S THE WORST, THE WORST.

WITH KAULANA'S LAW, WE IMPLEMENT, I WENT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND WE WORKED HARD.

IT WAS ONLY ME.

WE HAD A TEAM THERE.

THAT GOT THIS BILL THROUGH.

AND ONLY WAY THIS BILL GOT THROUGH IS THE WORK OF GOD.

>>Yunji: TELL FOLKS PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LAW ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHED.

>> KAULANA'S LAW FOR THOSE WHO COMMIT IMPAIRED DRUNK OR INTOXICATED, HITS SOMEONE AND FLEE THE SCENE.

AND DON'T COME BACK TO RENDER AID.

SO WHAT THAT DOES IS GIVE EXTENSION OF TEN MORE YEARS ADDED, SO IF THE PERSON WHO HIT MY SON, CHARGED FOR NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE, WHICH IS CLASS B FELON, TEN YEARS, POSSIBILITY OF PROBATION.

WHEN YOU GOT MANSLAUGHTER WHICH IS RECKLESS, WHICH IS TEN YEARS, TO LIFE.

WHICH IS 20 YEARS.

TO LIFE.

IN PRISON.

SO FOR ME, I'M WONDERING WHY CERTAIN PEOPLE BASICALLY ALMOST THE SAME THING, GET CHARGED DIFFERENT.

WHETHER IT'S RECKLESS, FALL PROBABLY UNDER MANSLAUGHTER.

20 TO LIFE.

NEGLIGENT.

WHICH IS TEN YEARS TO THIS PERSON WALKING FREE.

AND YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN SEEING IT ALL OVER THE TV.

AND I KNOW I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT DO WHAT THEY GOT TO DO.

TO, AND WITH STEVE ALM THERE, AND WHICH BRING A LOT OF SAFETY WITHIN THE STATE OF HAWAII, AND THANKS TO ED SNIFFING, HPD, SUPPORT ME, I MAY NEVER KNOW BY BRINGING AWARENESS OF DRINKING AND DRIVING OR DOING DRUGS, HOW MANY LIVES THAT WE MAY HAVE SAVED BY BRINGING THIS AWARENESS TO OUR STATE.

AND I JUST APPRECIATE THAT I GOT PEOPLE BEHIND ME SUPPORTING ME TO SAVE LIVES, NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS IF IT'S TO DO WITH SAVING LIVES, I THANK ED, WE CAN IMPLEMENT RAISED CROSSWALKS SPEED BUMPS.

SINCE WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THAT AS FAR AS I KNOW, ZERO FATALITY WITHIN THAT AREA.

A LOT OF THE FATALITIES HAPPENED ON OUTSIDE OF THIS HUMPS.

I GOT KICKED BACK IN TRYING TO BRING THAT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT I DIDN'T CARE.

THEY WON'T KNOW UNLESS THEY LOSE THEIR LOVED ONE, BE OUT THERE HOLDING SIGNS WITH ME AND TRYING TO SLOW THESE CARS DOWN.

WHICH I BRING EVERY YEAR.

AND ESPECIALLY ON KAULANA'S DAY HE GOT KILLED.

WAS THIS PAST MONDAY.

ON SUNDAY.

THANK HPD TO BRINGING OUT THE TEAM TO DO SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT.

NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GOT ARRESTED BUT I KNOW I WAS THERE.

HEARING THE HORNS BEEPING, NORMALLY WON'T HEAR HORNS BEEPING AT YOU WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GET DRUGS OR DRUNKS OFF THE ROAD.

NEVER KNOW IF THEY GOT GUNS OFF THE ROAD THAT NIGHT OR HOW MUCH PEOPLE THAT WE SAVED.

I WOULD NEVER KNOW THAT.

BUT ALL I KNOW IS WE DIDN'T GET ANY FATALITIES DURING THAT WEEK.

AND I'M ALWAYS GOING TO BE A STRONG ADVOCATE IN SUPPORTING SARA.

SUPPORTING THE DAUGHTER.

SUPPORTING MY NIECES.

SUPPORTING EVERYBODY THAT IS IN OUR PREDICAMENT AND GOING THROUGH WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS.

I HOPE THAT YOU KNOW, WE CAN BRING THIS OUT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE CAN SAVE ONE LIFE, WE CAN SAVE TWO OR MAYBE HUNDREDS.

I KNOW IT'S ALL WORTH IT WHAT I DO.

>>Yunji: YOU BRING UP REALLY INTERESTING POINT.

THAT IS WHERE D.O.T.

COMES IN.

ED SNIFFENEN HERE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

LAWS AN ROADS THEMSELVES.

>> WE SAW KAPIOLANI BOULEVARD INTERCEPTION, SPEED HUMPS PUT IN.

RED LIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS PUT IN.

TO WHAT EXTENT CAN ROADS THEMSELVES BE PART OF SOLUTION.

>> THEY HAVE TO BE.

EXPERTS, HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR IN THIS ROOM ESPECIALLY TWO PARENTS OF KIDS RE LOST AND STRENGTHENING AND INTEGRITY AND CONVICTION OF MESSAGING TO THE PUBLIC.

IN GENERAL, LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE.

COURTS CAN'T ADDRESS EVERYTHING.

I WANT TO SAY 2015, FIRST STARTED TALKING STORY ABOUT FATALITIES A OCCUR, TALKING ABOUT THE SHEAR NUMBERS 107 FATALITIES PER YEAR ON THE SYSTEM.

GENERAL APATHY IN SOCIETY ABOUT THAT NUMBER.

1007 FATALITIES EVERY YEAR.

WE CAN COUNT THAT 107 WILL DIE ON THE HIGHWAYS EVERY YEAR.

BUT IN GENERAL, GETS PUSHED OFF AS ACCIDENTS OR ACCEPTABLE SOME SHAPE OR FORM.

NO WAY CAN ADD UP NUMBERS.

NOT JUST HAWAII THING.

40,000 PEOPLE DAY IN THE NATION EVERY YEAR.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HEAR ABOUT IT.

HEAR ABOUT IT WHEN IT OCCURS AND THAT'S IT.

IF THE SOCIETY THAT WE HAVE HAD THE PASSION THAT YOU SEE IN THIS ROOM TODAY, THESE NUMBERS GO DOWN IMMEDIATELY.

BEN JUST TALKED ABOUT IT.

50 TO 60% DRUNK DRIVING.

>> THAT'S THE REASON FOR IT.

30, 35% EXCESSIVE SPEED.

15 TO 25 PERCENT, DISTRACTED DRIVING.

EXCESSIVE SPEED.

CHOICES ALL THREE OF THEM.

CHOICE, WE CHANGE THOSE CHOICES, 90% OF THE PEOPLE GO HOME TOMORROW.

97 GO HOME TOMORROW.

YOU DON'T SEE THAT THOUGH IN SOCIETY.

THERE'S AN EXCUSING OF THIS OCCURRING.

INCIDENT IN WAIMANALO.

PERSON KILLED A CHILD IN A STROLLER IN A CROSSWALK, AS NIGHT.

AT DUSK.

WHEN YOU SEE THE REPORT, AREA LEGISLATOR AT THE TIME SAID, I'M GOING TO HAVE THE D.O.T.

CHECK THESE LIGHTS.

DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE PERSON THAT RAN FROM THE SCENE.

DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE PERSON PICKED UP WAS STILL LEGALLY DRUNK.

TALKED ABOUT THE LIGHTS.

EXCUSED WHOLE SITUATION TO SOMETHING THAT COULD GENERALLY BE CONSIDERED IN THE FACILITY.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS, START TELLING EVERYBODY MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.

MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.

95% WAS PEOPLE GO HOME.

DIDN'T WORK.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT'S FACILITY DOES FOR THEM.

WHAT WE SEE, JUST TALKED ABOUT REASONS FOR THE CRASHES.

THE REASON FOR EVERY FATALITY IS THE SPEED.

IF WE CAN GET THE SPEED OUT THE SYSTEMS, SAVE MORE LIFERS REGARDLESS IF THERE'S PEOPLE DRIVING DRUNK, PEOPLE DRIVING DISTRACTED OR SPEED.

IF WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS SPEED MANAGEMENT DEVICES IN THE WAY, WHETHER RAISED CROSSWALKS OR SPEED HUMPS OR ROUNDABOUTS, THINGS THAT REQUIRE YOU TO SLOW DOWN, ALLOW TO YOU REACT BETTER TO THE SYSTEM.

ENSURE BECAUSE YOU HAVE A REDUCTION IN SPEED, MORE PEOPLE SURVIVE.

AND ENSURE YOU CAN MAKE BETTER DECISIONS.

SO FOR US, TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT'S SYSTEM CAN DO THAT.

ALSO HELP ENFORCEMENT.

RED LIGHT CAMERAS.

PILOT SPEED CAMS.

DON'T NEED THEM EVERYWHERE OR AREAS WORK ZONES OR SCHOOL ZONES OR SAFETY AREAS WE KNOW THERE'S HIGH INCIDENTS FOR VIOLENCE WE HAVE.

KOKUA ROAD.

DIFFERENT AREAS WE SEE HIGH CRASH FATALITIES NO.

GOING TO BE LIKE VAN CAMS.

NOT TRY TO TRAP YOU OR HIDE.

PUT UP SIGNS SAY WE'RE MONITORING THIS AREA.

WITH SPEED CAMS.

IF YOU SPEED THIS ON YOU.

MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY STARTS MAKING RIGHT DECISIONS A LOT MORE.

>>Yunji: WHEN YOU PUT THOSE RED LIGHT CAMERAS TONIGHT SO OUTRAGE A LOT OF THOSE SAME PEOPLE SAY WE DON'T WANT THOSE.

>> I IMAGINE YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF PUSH BACK.

I DON'T CARE.

TALKING ABOUT 107 FATALITIES WE CAN GET DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY, PUSH THEM.

MAKE SURE THAT WE GET EVERYBODY JUST FOLLOWED LAW.

NOT ASKING TO SLOW DOWN TO 0.

NOT ASKING ANYBODY TO GET UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THEIR DRIVES.

>> JUST FOLLOW THE LAW.

>>Yunji: BRING IN JUDGE LEE.

AUDIENCE.

THANK YOU ALL OF YOU CALLING IN AND WRITING IN.

KEEP QUESTIONS COMING.

YOU ARE VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.

INTERESTING QUESTION HERE COULDN'T WE USE THE FORFEITURES TAKE AWAY OR FORFEIT THE CAR DRIVEN BY A PERSON WITHOUT A LICENSE.

IF THE DEFENDANT DOESN'T OWN THE CAR, STATE CAN GIVE NOTICE OR OWNER TO REGISTERED OWNER FORFEIT FOR TAKE THE CAR DRIVING SAME CAR WITHOUT A LICENSE.

RON IN KANEOHE, POSSIBLE ELEMENT IN THE YARA CASE, HOLDING OWNER OF THE CAR THAT HE WAS USING ACCOUNTABLE.

TO WHAT EXTENT COULD WE SEIZE VEHICLES OR IS THERE ANOTHER WAY?

CLEARLY, THE NUMBERS THAT WE LAID OUT OVER A DOZEN TIMES INCLUDING MONTH BEFORE, DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE, THOSE CITATION IS NOT SEEM BEING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

FORFEITURE OF CAR GOOD IDEA.

NEED LEGISLATION ENABLES PROSECUTE TO MAKE SUCH FORFEITURE AVAILABLE.

RIGHT NOW, FORFEITURE GENERALLY FOR CRIMES SUCH AS GAMBLING, ET CETERA.

NOT FOR DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE OR NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE.

SO YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE LAW TO GET FORFEITURE A VEHICLE.

BUT I WANTED TO POINT OUT SOME THINGS THAT I WAS RATHER AMAZED WHEN BEN THROUGH THE STATS, BECAUSE THE STATS EXACTLY WHAT ED SAID.

PEOPLE DON'T TREAT SERIOUS CRIMES SERIOUSLY.

THIS IS JUST AN ACCIDENT.

DRIVING WITHOUT LICENSE, NO BIG DEAL.

I WOULD RATHER AMAZED WHEN I HEARD BEN'S DISCUSSION ABOUT THE STATS.

I ALSO AGREE WITH ERIC IN TERMS OF RESOURCES.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THERE IS JUDICIARY DISTINGUISHED HABITUAL FROM THE REGULAR DRIVER, DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE PEOPLE AND MAKE THE BABY STEP TO HOLD THESE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

DID CANNOT FALL THROUGH THE BLACK HOLE.

THESE DRIVING WITHOUT LICENSE CANNOT FALL THROUGH THE BLACK HOLE.

SO THE FIRST STEP SHOULD BE THE COURTS.

>> COURTS NEED TO STEP IT UP.

AND TAKE THAT FIRST STEP.

THIS PERSON MAY NOT HAVE BEEN DRIVING HAD THEY TOOK THAT FIRST STEP.

YOU CAN WAIT FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU MONEY BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS TO PROVE IT.

THEN DO A STUDY.

WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT.

SO JUDICIARY HAS THE STICK.

THEY CAN AT LEAST HOLD THESE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THESE OFFENDERS ARE CREATURE OF HABIT.

AND IF NOTHING HAPPENS TO THEM, THEIR IDEAL IS IDEAL IS IS THAT I CAN DO IT AGAIN.

I CAN DO IT AGAIN.

BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENS TO ME.

SO THE JUDICIARY CAN MAKE THAT DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE OCCASIONAL DRIVING WITHOUT LICENSE AND HABITUAL ONES.

THAT WAS DESCRIBED.

AND THE HABITUAL ONES COULD ACTUALLY USE THEIR AUTHORITY TO HOLD THESE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

BRING IN SOME MORE COMMENTS AUDIENCE.

>> GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THESE.

WHEN WILL JUSTICE BE SERVED FOR SARA.

SUSPECT IS SUPPOSEDLY OUT FREE.

GETS AWAY WITH THIS, OTHER PEOPLE WILL THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS TOO.

ANOTHER PERSON SAYING, ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORD.

LAW BECAME SOFT AND PEOPLE TOOK ADVANTAGE.

TALKING ABOUT THE DRIVER AND WHY HE IS STILL DRIVING.

I WOULD IMAGINE FACT THIS GENTLEMAN HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED MUST WEIGH PRETTY HEAVY ON YOU.

>> THAT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN.

IT'S NOT JUST THIS ONE PERSON.

MANY OUT THERE DRIVES WITHOUT A LICENSE HABITUALLY GET CAUGHT WITH IT.

AND I MEAN, WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY ABOUT OFFENDERS THAT DOES IT ONE, TWO, THREE TIMES?

LOOKED IT UP.

THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCES TO THAT OR SPEEDING.

NO REALLY CONSEQUENCE.

THESE GUYS CAN JUST KEEP ON SPEED DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

HAIRDRESSER SAID, IF THESE GUY ASKS DRIVE WITHOUT A LICENSE, WE MIGHT AS WELL NO DRIVE WITHOUT A LICENSE.

JUST NOT HAVE A LICENSE AT ALL.

IF THIS GUYS CAN GET AWAY WITH IT.

SO IT'S LAW NEEDS TO CHANGE.

I CAN SEE THE ONCE, TRYING IT'S HARD ON THEM.

IN HONOLULU.

YES.

COST OF LIVING IS HIGH HERE.

BUT THE ONES THAT CONTINUALLY DO IT, I MEAN, THEY NEED TO REAP THE REPERCUSSION AND THERE'S NONE.

I MEAN, COULD SARA BE LIVE TODAY IF THE GUY WAS PUT IN JAIL.

>> I WOULDN'T KNOW.

IF THE LAW STICK THEIR GUNS AND SAY, 12 COUNTS DRIVING, WITHOUT A LICENSE.

PUT YOU IN JAIL FOR A YEAR OR SO.

DID HE EVEN HAVE THAT?

DOES ANYBODY THAT DRIVES WITHOUT LICENSE CONSTANTLY AND GET CAUGHT WENT TO JAIL?

THAT'S MY QUESTION.

WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE THAT SPEED.

DID THEY EVER GO TO JAIL?

LIKE THE REPORT SAID, THIS GUY HAD 30 SOMETHING RECORD OF SPEEDING.

DID HE EVEN GO TO JAIL OR GET ANY CONSEQUENCES TO THAT?

FROM OUR RESEARCH, THERE WAS NO JAIL GIVEN TO THIS INDIVIDUAL.

BUT LET'S BRING IN.

>> FOR ANYBODY WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT IN THE FUTURE, WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR JAIL, ON A THIRD OFFENSE DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

SHOULD SEPARATE MAYBE LICENSE EXPIRED.

STATS ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF COVID.

DMV CLOSED GIVING PEOPLE SOME SLACK.

PART OF IT IS WE HAVE A NUMBER OF REALLY IRRESPONSIBLE PEOPLE OUT THERE.

AND SOME OF THEM ARE JERKS WHO DO NOT CARE ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD.

AND NO FAULT ININSURANCE IS A PET PEEVE OF MINE.

WHEN PEOPLE DON'T HAVE INSURANCE AND THEY'RE DRIVING, THEY ARE THUMBING THEIR NOSE AT EVERYBODY ELSE OUT THERE IF I HIT YOU, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

WHETHER IT'S PEDESTRIAN OR PERSON AND I REALIZE PEOPLE LIKE TO HAVE THEIR CARS.

BUT WE HAVE A GOOD BUS SYSTEM HERE.

DON'T ON HAWAII ISLAND.

DO OAHU.

WHICH WAS A JUDGE, HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN FROM KAHUKU, COMING FROM KANEOHE, TO GET DRUG TESTED AT COURT.

AND IF THEY WANT TO GET SOMEWHERE, THEY WILL GO.

I WOULD TELL THEM, GUY WOULD TELL ME, JUDGE, I LIVE SO FAR AWAY.

IF YOU WERE TRYING TO SCORE DOPE, YOU WOULD GO ANYWHERE ON THIS ISLAND, AND THEY SAY, YEAH, THAT'S TRUE.

SO YOU KNOW, WHERE THERE'S A WILL.

THERE'S A WAY.

WE WILL FIND OUT IF THE COURTS ARE WILLING TO IT.

AND I THINK TOO TO THE AVERAGE CITIZEN, IDEA OF GOING TO JAIL IS REALLY SCARY.

SO IF THAT IS STARTS HAPPENING, AND GETS PUBLICIZED WE WILL CERTAINLY TRY TO HELP YOU DO, HELP MEDIA DO, WE'LL SEE MAYBE THAT WILL HAVE AN EFFECT.

THEY ALSO SHOULD FOR THE ONES THAT ARE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL PROBLEM, SHOULD GET TREATMENT FOR THAT.

TOTALLY IN FAVOR OF.

PARTLY, WE JUST HAVE SOME ENTITLED PEOPLE WHO THINK, I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT AND I DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE.

>>Yunji: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS KIND OF FOLLOWING UP ON THIS PERSON WRITING FROM KAMUELA ON HAWAII ISLAND.

BRING NEW.

WHY CAN'T THE POLICE IMPOUND OFFENDERS CARS?

WHAT ARE THE RULES?

>> STATUTES DON'T LET US DO IT.

LIST OF SPECIFIED OFFENSES IN THE HAWAII REVISED STATUTES.

THESE OFFENSES FOR WHICH YOU CAN IMPOUND CARS.

DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE FIRST OFFENSE, SECOND OFFENSE PETTY MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE.

ALMOST ALL OF THOSE CASES ASSET FORFEITURE SIDE OF THE HOUSE IS ALL MISDEMEANORS.

>>Yunji: WHAT KIND OF CHANGES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE EITHER THE LAW OR TO ROAD SAFETY?

WHAT KIND OF CHANGES ARE YOU HOPING FOR?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LAW CHANGE.

I MEAN, FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS.

I MEAN, WE HAVE IT THERE, BUT IT DOESN'T STICK.

I MEAN, WHEN I LOOKED AT DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE, YOU CAN HAVE A FINE OR FIRST OFFENSES IS 30 DAYS IN JAIL.

OR 30 DAYS IN JAIL.

THERE IS NOTHING TO SAY, OKAY, IF YOU HIT THE FOURTH DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE, YOU'RE GOING TO JAIL.

IT'S LIKE, THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCES.

SO THEY THINK AT THE CAN DO IT ALL THE TIME.

THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT STICKS AND HAVE CONSEQUENCES TO PEOPLE DON'T CARE BEING ON THE STREET WITHOUT A LICENSE.

PEOPLE WHO DON'T CARE DRIVING, SPEEDING ON THE ROAD.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING YOU BACK TWO COMMENTS HERE.

DRIVERS IN STATE ATTITUDE RUN THE RED LIGHT OR NOT STOP FOR PEOPLE IN THE CROSSWALK FEEL THEY ARE IN THE RIGHT.

PAT SAYS WHY HAVE TO WAIT PUT IN SPEED BUMPS AFTER SOMEONE DIES?

>> HAVEN'T BEEN WAITING MUCH.

ALREADY HAVE 116 SPEED HUMPS STATEWIDE.

LOOKING AT AREAS CONSIDERING WE HAVE MOST POTENTIAL CONFLICTS BETWEEN PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS AND DRIVERS.

THAT'S SCHOOL ZONES.

SO IN EVERY SCHOOL ZONE THROUGHOUT THE STATE, ANY TIME THERE'S A CROSSING OR ACROSS THE STATE FACILITY, TO A SCHOOL, THERE'S GOING TO BE A RAISED PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK THERE.

BAR NONE.

EVEN WORKING WITH THE COUNTIES TO ENSURE WE STARTED INSTALLING THEIR JURISDICTIONS.

15 AREAS LOOK AT JUST FOR THE CITY.

BECAUSE WE KNOW TO DO IT FASTER.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING YOU BACK IN.

STEVE IN WAIKIKI, PANEL NEEDS TO STOP SUGARCOATING THIS.

NOT ABOUT NOT HAVING MONEY TO PAY FOR INSURANCE.

TALKING ABOUT HABITUAL OFFENDERS WHO DRIVE RECKLESSLY SPEED AND HIT AND RUN.

FOR THE DRIVERS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, IN THAT CASE, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS TONIGHT?

>> SO AGAIN, I WOULD OFFER DISTINCTION BETWEEN HABITUAL OFFENDERS THAT ARE GETTING MULTIPLE CITATION DRIVING WITHOUT LICENSE WITHOUT ANY KIND OF DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR DANGEROUS DRIVERS LIKE ED SNIFFEN POINTED OUT, THE MAJORITY OF ACCIDENTS AN FATALITIES ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE OF ACCESSIVE SPEEDING, BECAUSE OF DISTRACTED DRIVERS BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTOXICATED.

VERY DIFFERENT GROUPS.

AND I DON'T THINK BLANKET SOLUTION OF SENDING EVERYONE THAT GETS A DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE CITATION TO JAIL.

IS NECESSARILY THE ANSWER.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHO WE'RE SENDING TO JAIL.

WE WANT TO SEND PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY DANGEROUS, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT POSE A RISK TO OUR COMMUNITY DANGEROUS DRIVES TO JAIL.

SENDING EVERYONE TO JAIL PUTS US AT RISK BECAUSE OUR JAILS ARE GETTING VERY CLOSE TO BEING OVERCROWD.

AT SOME POINT, IF THEY ARE OVERCROWED, GOING TO BE ISSUE WITH THE STATE AND IN TERMS OF SAFETY AND STATE IS GOING TO HAVE ISSUES ABOUT WHO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE KEEP IN CUSTODY.

THE JUDGES ARE GOING TO HAVE MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS WHICH THEY ALREADY DO.

ABOUT WHO IS ACTUALLY RISK TO OUR COMMUNITY.

>> CAN I ADD TO THAT.

HAWAII COUNTY, BRING IN MORE STATEWIDE PERSPECTIVE, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS ABSOLUTELY 100% TRUE.

ARTICLE IN CIVIL BEAT FEW WEEK AGO WHERE THE ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FROM OUR CIRCUIT WENT TO HAWAII COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

BASICALLY OUR ONLY JAIL ON THE ISLAND.

AND WHAT HE WITNESSED IS APALLING.

OVER 280 PEOPLE IN A PLACE THAT IS MAXED DESIGNED FOR 200.

THREE PEOPLE IN CELLS.

HAVE TWO BEDS.

PEOPLE THAT ARE SLEEPING DRY ROOMS NO RUNNING WATER.

SLEEPING IN VISITING AREAS.

SO WHEN THE JUDGE GOES THERE AND EXPERIENCE THAT, THEIR IMMEDIATE REACTION, WHAT THE JUDGE SAID, I TOLD THE OTHER JUDGES DON'T SEND ANYBODY THERE.

BECAUSE THERE'S REALLY LEGITIMATE NO ROOM.

YOUR POINT ABOUT PEOPLE DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN D WALL AND EXCESSIVE SPEEDING.

SAME YEAR, 2021, HAD 15,000 DRIVING WITHOUT LICENSE CASES.

4400 CASES EXCESSIVE SPEED.

95% DISMISSED.

SAME SYSTEM.

TWO DIFFERENT PROBLEMS.

SUBSETS OF PEOPLE.

BUT IT'S THE SAME SYSTEM FAILURES IN MY OPINION.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING YOU IN ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT, ALL SORT OF FLOWS TOGETHER.

IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO BE SENT TO JAIL, INSTINCT IS THEN TO DISMISS A CASE OR WORK SOMETHING ELSE OUT.

END UP PERHAPS WITH A SITUATION WE'RE IN NOW.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT CHIEF JUST SHARED ABOUT OUR JAIL SITUATION AND HOW THAT IMPACTS ALL OF THIS?

>> GO BACK A LITTLE BIT IN HISTORY.

I USED TO SEE WHAT USED TO HAPPEN IN TRAFFIC COURT.

AT HONOLULU DISTRICT COURT FOR MANY YEARS.

TRAFFIC TYPE OF OFFENSES SEEM TO TAKE A BACK SIDE TO CRIMINAL MATTERS.

WHEN YOU WANT TO HAVE SO MANY CASES THAT GET CONSOLIDATED AND WHOLE BUNCH GET DISMISSED, JUST SO YOU CAN GET A GUILTY PLEA ON ONE, THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TOO.

ON THE RAP SHEET, YOU'LL KNOW 20, 30, 40 DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

SEE MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN DISMISSED.

SO THAT YOU CAN GET A CONVICTION ON ONE OR TWO.

MORE SERIOUS TYPE OFFENSE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE RAP SHEET.

JAILS ARE GOING TO BE CROWDED WHEN YOU START SENDING PEOPLE TO JAIL.

THAT'S JUST BOTTOM LINE.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JAIL AND PRISONS, JAILS GOING TO BE FOR SHORT TERM.

SO THERE NEEDS TO BE CONSEQUENCES.

LIKE STEVE POINTS OUT, IT HAS TO BE IMMEDIATE.

OTHERWISE, IT'S A LITTLE CONSEQUENCE.

THAT'S JUST BASIC PSYCHOLOGY 101.

SO THERE HAS TO BE FIRM GUIDELINES THAT ARE ENFORCED AND DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

OTHERWISE, IT HAS NO EFFECT.

THAT'S WHY SO MANY PEOPLE FEEL ENTITLED SPEED AROUND AND THEY DO CRAZY THINGS AND YOU SEE THEM ON THE HIGHWAY ALL THE TIME.

I'M ASKING MYSELF, WHERE IS THE COP WHEN YOU NEED THEM?

BUT THE COPS OVERWHELMED AND THEY'RE OVERLOADED AND THEY CAN'T BE EVERY PLACE AT ONE TIME.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING YOU BACK INTO THAT CONVERSATION.

BECAUSE WE FOCUSED A LOT ON PENALTIES.

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT YOU THINK THIS COULD BE ADDRESSED PERHAPS GIVEN YOUR BACKGROUND OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING?

>> JUST TREATMENT, TREATMENT, TREATMENT.

MANDATING GOING INTO OUTPATIENT OR INPATIENT PROGRAM IMMEDIATELY.

EVEN THOSE PROGRAMS, WE ONLY HAVE A HANDFUL ON ISLAND.

BED SPACES TO AMOUNT OF COUNSELORS, CSECS LIKE MYSELF.

HANDFUL.

NOT ENOUGH TO ENTICE THEM TO COME TO HAWAII.

THIS SAY BIG, BIG PROBLEM.

NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO GO AROUND TO HELP AND PROVIDE THAT EMPATHY, SUPPORT BUT ALSO THAT GUIDANCE TO CHANGE THIS BEHAVIOR.

TO STOP REPEATING AND GOING OVER AND OVER AGAIN OF REPEATING THESE LAWS THAT KEEP GETTING BROKEN.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOVERNOR, LEGISLATORS, ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IS WE NEED MONEY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO CLEAN UP ALL OF THE JAILS, OCC TERRIBLE SHAPE.

NEIGHBOR ISLAND JAILS ARE WORSE.

PART OF THIS IS MONEY.

HONESTLY, MOST PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT INMATES.

IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER OR YOU KNOW SOMEBODY LOCKED UP, YOU'RE GOING TO CARE ABOUT IT.

BUT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND.

SEND PEOPLE TO SAGUARO PRISON ON THE MAINLAND IN ARIZONA.

BUT EVEN THEN, INMATES TELL ME I WOULD RATHER GO THERE AND DO MY TIME.

PRIVATE PRISON OFFICER HAS ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS.

JUDGE LEE, PROBABLY TOUGHEST SENTENCERS IN CIRCUIT COURT.

>> EVEN THEN GO TO PRISON YOU WANT THEM TO GET CHANCES FOR REHABILITATION.

SO BECAUSE THERE ARE GOING TO COME OUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS.

MOST PEOPLE.

WANT THEM TO BE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS.

PART OF ANSWER IS THE WAY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS RUN.

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SOON.

BUT PART OF IT JUST MONEY TO FIX UP THOSE FACILITIES.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING YOU IN.

ADD SOMETHING TO THAT.

ALSO ALTERNATIVE TO PRISONS.

WE DON'T HAVE TO SEND PEOPLE TO PRISON.

WE CAN CREATE COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE LESS THAN PRISONS BUT OFFER WAYS TO REMOVE PEOPLE FROM SOCIETY UNTIL THEY'RE CAPABLE OF REJOINING SOCIETY WITHOUT IT ACTUALLY BEING IN PRISON.

THEY'RE A LOT CHEAPER.

GROUP HOMES OF VARIOUS KINDS.

BUT WE HAVE NEVER REALLY EXPLORED THAT OPTION IN HAWAII.

BASICALLY THE OFFICIAL LINE HAS BEEN EITHER SENT PEOPLE TO CORRECTIONS, SPEND BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BUILDING NEW PRISONS, BUT THE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION AND OTHER GROUPS HAVE PROPOSED THAT WE GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION IN HAWAII FOR THE BULK OF PEOPLE WOULD DON'T NEED TO BE LOCKED UP.

UNDER THE CONDITIONS THAT OUR PRISONS CURRENTLY PROVIDE.

>>Yunji: JUST TO COUNTER THAT.

CALLER FROM PEARL CITY KEEP REPEATING.

LEARN FROM HARD PUNISHMENT.

PAIN CAUSED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO SEE WHAT THEY FEEL IS JUSTICE.

FOR THAT, FEELS LIKE HARSH PUNISHMENT.

WHAT DO YOU SEE TO THAT CALLER?

DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT SENTIMENT.

PEOPLE COMMIT HORRENDOUS CRIMES.

PUNISHMENT IS APPROPRIATE.

BUT PEOPLE NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM SOCIETY, PUT IN OTHER INSTITUTIONS, PROTECT SOCIETY AND ENSURE RELEASED FROM THOSE PROGRAMS BETTER CAPABLE OF PERFORMING THEIR OBLIGATIONS IN A SOCIETAL WAY.

WE DON'T HAVE TO SEND THEM TO PRISON IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.

>> STEP IN AN EARLIER STAGE.

TAKE PEOPLE OUT OF SOCIETY AND DO WE COULD TO PREVENT THEM FROM REPEAT OFFENSES.

WAY TO DO WITHOUT SENDING THEM TO PRISONS AT ENORMOUS COST NOW PROVIDING IN TERMS OF OUR INCARCERATION RATES.

>>Yunji: PLEASE GO AHEAD.

>> AS VICTIMS, AS I CAN SPEAK FOR A LOT OF VICTIMS, TO ME, WHAT IS LOCK 'EM UP RIGHT OFF THE TOP.

YOU DO THE CRIME.

YOU DO THE TIME.

VICTIMS, I CAN SPEAK FOR CHEVY TOO.

A LOT OF THE VICTIMS OUT THERE.

IS THAT THE SOLUTION?

FOR US, YEAH THAT'S A SOLUTION THAT WE CAN GET JUSTICE FOR.

BUT IS THAT THE OVERALL SOLUTION?

MAYBE NOT.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU DETERMINED BETWEEN CRASH AND ACCIDENT, TO ME, ACCIDENT WHEN I GET A COFFEE CUP, WATER THERE, HIT IT WITH YOUR ELBOW.

IT FALLS OFF THE TABLE.

THAT'S MEANS IT'S AN ACCIDENT.

GET A CRASH, SOMETHING 100% PREVENTABLE COULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED.

BUT WHETHER THEY WERE INTOXICATED IF YOU DRINK, GET INTOXICATED, YOU GET DRUNK, HOWEVER YOU WAY YOU PUT THEM, AND WHEN YOU ENTER INTO THE ROAD, POSSIBILITY YOU CAN KILL SOMEONE.

IF NOT KILLING YOURSELF.

KILLING AT ONCE.

EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH.

SO AS VICTIM ME AND HER CAN SIT HERE, NOBODY KNOWS WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH.

DOWN DEEP.

I KNOW WHAT I CAN LOOK AT HER AND SAY, SARA, I KNOW WHAT, YOUR DAUGHTER CHEVY, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.

I CAN TELL HER THAT.

NOT TOO MUCH GUYS THAT BEEN IN OUR SHOES CAN ACTUALLY, SHE CAN TELL ME THAT BACK TOO.

I CAN RELATE EXACTLY WHAT SHE'S TELLING ME.

BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HURTS.

WE KNOW WE HAVE TWO TIERED JUSTICE SYSTEMS.

RIGHT?

SOMETHING THAT IS 100% PREVENTABLE, YOU GET CHOICES THAT YOU'RE MAKE IN LIFE.

I'M NOT A PERFECT GUY.

I MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES OF MY TIME.

BUT I JUST THANK GOD MISTAKES I MADE THAT I COULD BUILD UP ON THEM AND BECOME A BETTER PERSON TODAY.

IN SOCIETY.

LIKE I SAY, SOME GUYS GET SECOND CHANCE.

WE DIDN'T.

SO DETERMINING ON FIGHTING FOR GET THE CRIMINALS OR KILLERS OUT FREE FOR US IS LIKE IT'S A NO‑NO.

>>Yunji: LET'S BRING YOUR VOICE IN THAT.

DO YOU FEEL THAT YOUR VOICE IS BEING HEARD THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS?

>> NO.

I MEAN, LIKE HE SAID, WHEN NEVER GOING TO SEE OUR CHILDREN WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR.

YOU GUYS WON'T FEEL WHAT WE FEEL.

YOU GUYS CAN SAY ALL THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO SAY ABOUT REFORMING PEOPLE.

UNLESS YOU GUYS KNOW THESE, REFORMING THESE PEOPLE.

UNLESS YOU'RE IN OUR SHOES, NEVER SEE YOUR CHILDREN AGAIN.

>> DON'T KNOW WHAT WE FEEL EVERY DAY.

I JUST CELEBRATED MY DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY ON FRIDAY.

HER TWIN HAD TO CELEBRATE IT WITHOUT HER SYSTEM.

DO YOU GUYS KNOW HOW PAINFUL THAT WAS FOR HER?

SHE CAN'T EVEN TELL HER MOTHER HOW SHE FEELS BECAUSE SHE'S AFRAID TO TELL ME HOW SHE FEELS.

ON HER BIRTHDAY, YOU KNOW WHERE SHE WENT?

TO A THERAPIST.

WHERE IS THIS GUY?

DOES ANYBODY NOW HOW WE FEEL?

NO.

MY DAUGHTER HAD TO CELEBRATE HER BIRTHDAY WITHOUT HER SISTER, TELLS ME, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GROW UP OLD TOGETHER.

WITHOUT HER SISTER.

SUPPOSED TO GO TO COLLEGE TOGETHER.

UNLESS YOU KNOW HOW IT FEELS PARENTS LOSING LOVED ONES, BEEN IN OUR SHOES.

IF IT HAPPENED TO YOU, YOU GUYS WOULD BE FIGHTING TO BRING THE LAW DOWN.

FIGHTING TO SAY WE NEED TO BRING JUSTICE.

WE NEED TO CHANGE THE LAW.

YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW HOW WE FEEL SO YOU GUYS CAN TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS.

BUT THE LAW NEEDS TO CHANGE.

THERE NEEDS TO BE CONSEQUENCES TO THE PEOPLE.

I'M NOT JUST SAYING PEOPLE DROVE WITHOUT A LICENSE.

FEEL SORRY FOR WHAT THEY DID.

TALKING ABOUT HABITUAL OFFENDERS CONSTANTLY DOING IT.

SAME NAME COMES UP EVERY TIME IN COURT AND THEY DON'T PAY THEIR ACTIONS.

IT'S LIKE A SLAP IN THE WRIST.

WE PAY FOR IT.

PARENTS THAT LOSE A LOVED ONE PAYS FOR IT.

WHAT DOES THE JUDGES?

JUST SLAP THEM ON THE WRIST.

GIVE THEM A FINE.

OH, JAIL TIME.

CANNOT PUT THEM IN JAIL BECAUSE OUR JAIL OVERLOADED.

THEN DO SOMETHING.

WE BUILT ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS.

LIKE THE RAIL FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.

>> NEVER ENDS.

WHY COULDN'T WE USE THAT MONEY TO BUILD BETTER JAILS SYSTEM?

INSTEAD WE SEND OUR GUYS PAY THE MONEY TO SEND OUR GUYS TO ANOTHER JAIL CELL.

ON THE MAINLAND.

USING THAT MONEY WE COULD HAVE USED THAT MONEY TO BUILD A BETTER SYSTEM.

A JAIL SYSTEM.

REFORM OUR GUYS HERE.

LESS THEM COME OUT BETTER PEOPLE.

IF WE HELP CHANGE THE PEOPLE IN JAIL, THEN MAYBE WE HAVE A BETTER COMMUNITY.

PUT OUR MONEY TO SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR NEXT GENERATION.

MY DAUGHTER, SHE'LL NEVER GO TO COLLEGE.

NEVER GET MARRIED.

AND MY POOR DAUGHTER, HER TWIN, GOT TO LIVE EVERY DAY PASSING HER SISTER, NEVER WENT IN HER ROOM SINCE SHE WAS GONE.

>>Yunji: I'M SO SORRY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID REALLY STRUCK ME.

WHERE IS THIS GUY?

RIGHT?

I THINK THAT IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE VERY INTERESTED TO KNOW.

CHIEF, I KNOW YOU SAID THAT IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR THESE INVESTIGATIONS TO GET PROCESSED.

WHO IS TO SAY THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL IS NOT ON THE ROAD TONIGHT?

>> WE DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, IT'S UNFORTUNATE WHERE DID HE GET THE VEHICLE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

IT WASN'T HIS.

IF IT WASN'T HIS, WHOSE WAS IT?

SO WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE THAT IS GOING TO STOP THESE PEOPLE?

I AGREE WITH CHEVY.

ABSOLUTELY, WHAT IS SOCIETY GOING TO TOLERATE BEFORE WE ACTUALLY START CHANGING RULES, CHANGE LAWS AS WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER, HPD WE CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE.

WE HAVE PROBABLY UP TO 900 OFFICERS IN ANY GIVEN DATE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY TRYING TO PROTECT EVERYONE IN UNIFORM DOING WHAT NEED TO DO.

ADDED, NOT YOU PERSONALLY, SOCIETY ADDED SINCE THE 80s SO MUCH LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WE CAN'T EVEN DO JUST BASIC ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE WE'RE DOING ALL SOCIETY'S OTHER ISSUES BECAUSE THERE'S NO MONEY TO HELP WITH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS PEOPLE, WITH DRUG ADDICTION PEOPLE, ON THE STREETS, WITH HOMELESS SITUATIONS, THAT ARE CAUSING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

THAT WE'VE GOT TO BE INCREASED.

GET A MILLION CALLS, ALMOST A MILLION 911 CALLS OUR SYSTEMS EVERY YEAR.

EMERGENCY SERVICE CALLS FOR UNRELATED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OR NONCRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF OFFICERS NOT DOING WHAT WE'VE ASKED THEM TO DO, WHAT OUR MISSION ASKS US TO DO.

MAINTAINING PUBLIC ORDER.

YES, PART OF OUR MISSION.

BUT WE'RE OUT THERE DOING SOCIAL SERVICES STUFF NOT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

DETERRING CRIME.

WE ARE STILL OUT THERE AS MUCH AS WE CAN BE.

WE'RE TRYING TO BALANCE THE SAFETY OF EVERY CITIZEN, RESIDENT HERE AND OUR VISITORS IN A CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU.

BUT EVEN CHIEF BEN IS DOING IT ON THE BIG ISLAND.

HOW DO WE HELP THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DO MORE OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO HELP KEEP OUR STREETS SAFE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DOING THESE OTHER THINGS THAT OTHER SERVICES ARE CAPABLE OF, STATE AND CITY, WOULD PROVIDE RESOURCES TO HELP RELIEVE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM DOING.

OUT THERE DOING YEOMAN'S WORK.

FANTASTIC WHAT THEY CAN DO.

BUT WE NEED HELP TOO.

>>Yunji: JUDGE, I WANT TO GETS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.

TALKED A LOT ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT CAN CHANGE.

SOME OF THEM WILL TAKE DECADES.

BUILDING ANOTHER PRISON.

SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT IN THE IMMEDIATE SHORT TERM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A CASE LIKE THIS, WHO DROPPED THE BALL?

>> I DON'T WANT TO REALLY POINT FINGERS BUT I THINK ‑‑ >>Yunji: LET ME REPHRASE THE QUESTION.

>> TAKE BABY STEPS.

PART OF THE BABY STEPS IS THAT WHEN THIS PERSON CAME BEFORE THE COURT, THE COURT HAD THIS PERSON'S RECORD.

AND THAT ASSUMING THE RECORD WAS TRUE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HIS RECORD, BUT ASSUMING HIS RECORD WAS TRUE, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RED FLAG.

OKAY?

AT THAT POINT.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RED FLAG.

THAT THIS PERSON SHOULD, HIS OR HER CASE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TREATED JUST AS MERE TRAFFIC TICKET.

IT WAS SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS.

THERE'S UNDERLYING PROBLEM.

AND OF THEREFORE SENTENCE THAT THE PERSON WOULD HAVE GOTTEN MIGHT HAVE BEEN SERIOUS.

MUCH MORE SERIOUS THAN MAYBE A SLAP ON THE WRIST.

THAT YOU SAY.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT THE JUDGE HANDLED CASE, DROPPED THE BALL.

OR THE POLICE DROPPED THE BALL.

OR THE PROSECUTOR DROPPED THE BALL.

WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE CAN'T BRING YOUR DAUGHTER BACK.

APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

>> I WANT CHANGES.

>> YES.

WE NEED TO TAKE BABY STEPS.

ONE OF THE BABY STEPS IS PERHAPS HAVING THE COURTS TAKE THESE CASES MORE SERIOUSLY.

LIKE ED SAID, IT'S JUST ACCIDENT.

NO, IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT.

IT'S A CRIME.

AND THE JUDGE HAS TO BALANCE STUFF.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I AGREE WITH YOU.

CAN'T THROW EVERYBODY IN JAIL.

IF THIS PERSON'S RECORD WAS AS HORRENDOUS AS WE ARE TOLD, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RED FLAG AT THE GET GO.

JUDGE SHOULD HAVE STEPPED IN AND DONE SOMETHING.

AT THE VERY LEAST.

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

I MEAN I GET IT.

NOT GOING TO GET ANY JUDGE THAT SITTING TO BE ON THE PANEL TODAY.

FOR ATE LOVER OBVIOUS REASONS‑LOT OF OBVIOUS REASONS.

FORM JUDGE, WHAT WOULD HAVE MADE YOU THINK TWICE OR MADE YOU CHANGE YOUR PERCEPTION AS A JUDGE IN THESE KIND OF CASES?

IS IT MADD USED TO BRING COURT MONITORS IN.

SOMEBODY IN THE COURTROOM WITH A NOTEBOOK KEEPING TRACK.

IS THAT WHAT IT IS?

>> DISTRICT COURT JUDGES THEIR JOB REALLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE AT ANY GIVEN DAY, THEY HAVE HUNDRED TO 150 CASES A DAY.

IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT.

BUT IT HAS DO WITH THE JUDGES MORAL AND ETHICS.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE JUDGE HAS TO HAVE SOME COMPASSION AND MORAL TO KNOW TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

AND NOT JUST MOVE THIS CASE THROUGH JUST BECAUSE IT'S A NUMBER.

IF YOU LOOK AT THINGS IN THE PAST, IT'S NOT HAPPENING NOW.

BUT IN THE PAST, WHENEVER A JUDGE DID SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL, AGAINST WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS, THE JUDGE'S NAME WAS ALWAYS THERE.

JUDGE SO‑AND‑SO DID THIS.

JUDGE SO‑AND‑SO SENTENCED THIS.

NOW THEY DON'T EVEN MENTION WHICH JUDGE.

THEREFORE, WE NEED TO HOLD JUDGES RESPONSIBLE TOO.

JUST LIKE WE HOLD DRIVERS RESPONSIBLE.

JUDGES HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE TOO.

SO JUDGES HAVE TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS THEMSELVES.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING YOU IN.

YOU'VE BEEN A JUDGE.

NOW YOU'RE A PROSECUTOR.

WE TALKED ABOUT LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME.

I WANT TO REPHRASE THE QUESTION THAT I ASKED.

JUDGE LEE, NOT NECESSARILY WHO DROPPED THE BALL, WHAT ADAPTATIONS CAN BE MADE NOW SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT?

>> I REALLY THINK THAT OUR JUDGES ARE COMPASSIONATE, BRIGHT, TRYING TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE A FAIR TRIAL, BUT I HONESTLY DON'T THINK THEY THINK PART OF THEIR JOB IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

IF I WAS A DISTRICT JUDGE, I WAS A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE LIKE RANDY WAS, DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, THE FIRST TIME SOMEBODY WAS CAUGHT STEALING, THEY WOULD GET A DEFERRAL, KEEP RECORDS CLEAN.

SECOND TIME, THEY GET A COUPLE DAYS IN JAIL.

WHEN I WAS JUDGE, THESE MISDEMEANOR CAMPAIGNS SPENDING CASES, CAME IN.

I GAVE THEM ALL TEN DAYS IN JAIL.

I WAS THE ONLY JUDGE WHO GAVE ANYBODY ANY JAIL TIME.

JUST IT'S A CULTURE OF LENIENCY HONESTLY.

I THINK WHEN THE LIGHT IS SHOWN ON IT, THAT'S WHY I WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THESE CASES.

AND IT'S ALWAYS CHALLENGING TO TRY TO MAKE MANDATORY JAIL TIME.

BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET ALL OF THIS PUSH BACK.

YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE MANDATORY JAIL TIME IN EVERY SINGLE CASE FOR A DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

WHAT ABOUT A SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE FOURTH DEGREE?

WHAT ABOUT NEG HOM 4?

DIFFICULT AREA.

THERE'S ROOM IN THE STATUTES RIGHT NOW TO GIVE JAIL TIME AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR IT ON LIKE THIRD OFFENSE FOR NO FAULT INSURANCE, NO OFFENSE DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

START CATCHING SOME OF THESE HABITUAL GUYS.

IF JUDGES WILL GIVE THEM JAIL TIME.

>>Yunji: LAWS DON'T NEED TO BE CHANGED.

LAWS ARE THERE.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

LAW AS ALLOW FOR JAIL TIME RIGHT NOW.

ALLOW PRISON TIME FOR FELONIES.

REALLY RARE TO GO DOWN TO CIRCUIT COURT IN A FELONY AND SEE ANYBODY GET A PRISON SENTENCE.

I MEAN, JAIL IS OCCC PRETRIAL DETENTION OR PROBATION VIOLATIONS.

PRISON IS HALAWA, WOMEN'S, SAGUARO.

ALMOST NEVER SEE ANYBODY GET PRISON TIME UNTIL THE STATUTE MANDATES IT.

WHEN I WAS A JUDGE, VIOLENT FELONY, I WOULD OFTEN SEND THEM TO PRISON THE FIRST TIME.

I WAS ALONE.

I WAS THE FIRST, AND MAYBE JUDGE LEE, BUT WHEN I WAS APPOINTED TO CIRCUIT COURT IN HONOLULU, I WAS THE FIRST CAREER PROSECUTOR TO BE APPOINTED TO CIRCUIT COURT IN HONOLULU EVER.

THE PATH WAS THROUGH THE DEFENSE BAR TO GET TO BE A JUDGE.

MARK BENNETT, LINDA LINGLE 'S ATTORNEY GENERAL, MADE IT MISSION TO GET A FORMER PROSECUTOR ON THERE.

NOW IT'S A BALANCE.

PRETTY LENIENT SYSTEM.

JUDGES HAVE IT WITHIN THEIR SYSTEMS DO THAT.

MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING OUR JOB PROSECUTING THE CASES AND BY ASKING FOR JAIL, AND IF WE WEREN'T DOING THAT ENOUGH IN THE PAST, SHAME ON US.

WE'RE GOING TO DO IT NOW.

AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

IT A STARTS WITH THE COURT.

COURTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO HOLD THESE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE.

I ALSO THINK THAT THE LAW COULD BE BETTER.

WHEN I SAY THE LAW COULD BE BETTER, COULD HAVE HABITUAL DRIVING WITHOUT LICENSE OR TRAFFIC OFFENDER THIRD OR FOURTH OFFENDER, NOW A FELONY.

DID THAT WITH THE DUI CASE.

WHY CAN'T WE DO IT WITH THE TRAFFIC OFFENSES?

HABITUAL ONES.

>> FOR US, HABITUAL ONES.

>> FOR US PUT OUR WHOLE TRUST IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.

TO GET WHAT WE NEED TO GET RESULTS OUT THERE.

FOR THOSE WHO BREAK THE LAW.

I UNDERSTAND THE COURT SYSTEM.

>> I UNDERSTAND INVESTIGATIONS.

QUESTION GOT TO LET HPD CONDUCT INVESTIGATION.

WE GOT TO LET PROSECUTORS DO.

BECAUSE IF THERE IS A MINOR THING WITHIN INVESTIGATION, THINGS CAN BE DISMISSED.

>> PRETTY SURE THESE GUYS EXPERTS THROUGH EXPERIENCE, THAT AND WHEN THE THING GETS DISMISS, CRIMINALS AND KILLERS CAN WALK FREE.

SO WE CHEVY AND I, PRETTY MUCH CAN VOUCH FOR ALL THE VICTIMS OUT THERE THAT WE PUT OUR WHOLE TRUST IN THE EXPERTS.

OUR COURT SYSTEM, JUSTICE SYSTEM.

>>Yunji: FRED GO AHEAD.

>> JUST TO TOUCH UPON AND GIVE SOME PERSPECTIVE HERE.

SO WHAT BEN TALKS ABOUT HIS NUMBERS AND I THINK WHAT ERIC BRINGS OUT ABOUT ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES, SOME PERSPECTIVE THAT 2019, TO 2022, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE STATS SHOWED THAT COURTS PUT ON PROBATION BETWEEN 19 AND 24,000 PEOPLE ON PROBATION FELONY AND MISDEMEANORS.

FELONY AND MISDEMEANORS.

ON PROBATION.

SO IF ANY OF THOSE GETS REVOKED OPEN TERM, PRISONS WILL BE WAY OVERCROWDED.

NOT SAYING THAT WILL HAPPEN.

BUT THE COURTS ARE DOING, AS FAR AS I CAN SEE, BEST JOB THAT THEY CAN WITH THE RESOURCES THEY CAN.

NEED MORE RESOURCES.

I DO KNOW THAT THEY GO TO THE LEDGE EVERY YEAR, AND THEY CAN'T GET MORE COURTROOMS OR MORE JUDGES OR MORE STAFF, SO THAT LIES ANOTHER PROBLEM.

HAS TO BE A BALANCE BETWEEN THINGS.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO GET TO JUST A COUPLE OF THESE.

WE HAVE SO MANY CALLERS THAT ARE WRITING IN.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THERE'S A TON OF STUFF FOR YOU, MR. SNIFFEN.

YOU KNOW, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY WANTING ROADS THEMSELVES TO BE CHANGED.

JUST GOING TO READ A FEW.

>> CAN YOU RESPOND GENERALLY.

MIKE SAYS, WHY DON'T YOU PUT SPEED BUMPS BEFORE CROSSWALKS INSTEAD OF MAKE CROSSWALK ITSELF RAISED?

MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THE DRIVERS STILL SPEED RIGHT THROUGH.

MARILYN IN MILILANI, WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG TO INSTALL RED LIGHT CAMERAS?

WHAT ABOUT LOWERING SPEED LIMIT TO 45 MILES PER HOUR TO PREVENT MORE FATALITIES.

MAKE SURE THAT DRUNK AND DRIVING ISN'T BROUGHT DOWN TO RECKLESS DRIVING?

SPEED BUMS AND TRAFFIC CAMERAS TO SLOW DOWN THE TRAFFIC IS NOT THE ANSWER.

SAYS TED IN WAIANAE.

REAL PROBLEM IS ROADWAYS ARE TOO SMALL TO ACCOMMODATE CARS WE HAVE ON THE ISLAND.

ROADWAYS HAVE NOT CHANGED ENOUGH IN THE LAST 50 YEARS TO MAKE AN IMPACT COULD DO A WHOLE INFRASTRUCTURE SHOW.

RESPONDING, CALLER POINTS OUT, THIS IS NOT JUST OAHU ISSUE.

WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM HILO AS WELL.

I THINK ACROSS THE ISLANDS YOU WOULD HEAR PEOPLE SAYING THE SAME THING.

>> RAISED CROSSWALK NATIONAL STANDARD.

NATIONALLY SHOWING THAT THE NUMBERS ARE BETTER THAN JUST RAISED CROSSWALKS.

RAISED CROSSWALKS, ADA ISSUES.

RAISED CROSSWALKS WORK BETTER MAINLY BECAUSE NOT ONLY SHOWS PROVIDES THAT DRIVER, THAT REASON TO SLOW DOWN, BUT ALSO ELEVATES PEDESTRIAN DRIVER'S MIND.

TWO BIG THINGS THAT THE RAISED CROSSWALKS DO.

IF WE CANNOT DO THAT, DO SPEED HUMPS.

AND RED LIGHT CAMERAS ARE NOT ON THE ANSWER.

DRIVER IS THE ANSWER.

PUTTING THEM IN PLACE BECAUSE THE DRIVER IS NOT DOING THEIR JOB.

I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SYSTEM DOES IT FOR THEM.

IF THE DRIVER DOES THEIR JOB, I DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY OF THESE THINGS ANY MORE.

SYSTEM IS 100% SAFE IF THE DRIVERS ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW.

THAT ALL BEING SAID, WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK TOGETHER ON ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ISSUES TO BRING THE SAFEST SYSTEM POSSIBLE.

CALLERS TALKED ABOUT ROAD BEING TOO SMALL.

IN GENERAL, NOWHERE FOR TO US BUILD ANY MORE.

LANDLOCKED STATE.

NO PLACE TO GO.

HOUSES ON BOTH SIDES OF ROADS.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO.

>> GOT THE SYSTEM WE GOT.

USING A LOT MORE TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE SURE WE CAN MAKE OUR SYSTEM MORE EFFICIENT.

PEOPLE EXPECTING MORE ROADS.

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES OR LAND.

MAKE THEM SAFER.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SEEING IF THE ROADS ARE BIGGER, MORE SPEED.

MORE SPEED, MORE FATALITIES.

SO NOT GOING TO SEE MORE ROADS.

DIFFERENT AREAS.

WE CAN REDUCE THE SPEED LIMITS AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO.

>> IF WE DON'T CHANGE THE SYSTEM, WE DON'T PUT THINGS IN THE WAY TO MAKE SURE WE MANAGE SPEED, SPEED LIMITS DON'T MATTER.

GENERAL, CALLING HIM GENERAL LOGAN, JOE SAID, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH OFFICERS TO BE SITTING AT DIFFERENT AREAS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT'S SYSTEM IS BUILT IN TO ENSURE MINIMIZE SPEED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> WE STARTED OUT TALKING ABOUT NUMBER OF THINGS.

BUT I THINK WHAT HAS COME THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE TO ME MOST IMPORTANTLY, IS THAT KIDS WHO WENT TO SCHOOL WITH SARA WERE OUTRAGED WHAT HAPPENED.

AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT OUTRAGE WILL CONTINUE.

BECAUSE AS WE SAID EARLY ON, INCIDENTS AND PEOPLE EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS AND THEN WE FORGET ABOUT IT.

WE GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

I THINK THE BEST HOPE WE HAVE IS FOR PEOPLE NOT TO FORGET AND FOR PEOPLE TO DEMAND THAT WE DO A BETTER JOB OF PROTECTING OUR KIDS, PARTICULARLY, BUT OUR CITIZENS GENERALLY.

AND THAT WE DEMAND OF OUR OFFICIALS THAT THEY DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO PROVIDE MOST PROTECTION THAT WE'RE ENTITLED TO.

IF WE FORGET THIS INCIDENT FIVE MONTHS FROM NOW, SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, THEN WE WILL NOT HAVE LEARNED ANYTHING.

BUT I THINK FRANKLY SOME HOPE.

KIDS AT MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL, OTHER KIDS WHO CAME OUT, TO JOIN THEM, WHEN THEY HAD DEMONSTRATIONS, THAT'S GOT TO CONTINUE.

AND WE CAN'T FORGET.

BECAUSE THEN THEY'LL BE ANOTHER TRAGEDY THAT WILL EVEN BE MORE UPSETTING.

>>Yunji: SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE WRITING IN WITH ALL OF THESE SUGGESTIONS.

I HAVE THIS ONE FROM TOM.

CHIEF LOGAN, DO OFFICERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO KNOW WHEN THEY STOP A HABITUAL OFFENDER, DO WE HAVE SOME TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY TO DISTINGUISH THE DRIVERS?

WHEN YOU RUN LICENSE, OR LACK THEREOF, ARE YOU ABLE TO TELL RIGHT AWAY THAT THIS IS A HABITUAL OFFENDER AND MAYBE SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE RIGHT AWAY?

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

SO UNLESS OFFICER HAS ACCESS TO EKOA LOOK UP SOMEBODY.

THAT TAKES TIME.

COURTS AND THE LEGAL EXPERTS IN OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM ALLOWED OFFICERS WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HOLD PEOPLE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

IN A TRAFFIC STOP KIND OF ENGAGEMENT.

SO WE HAVE TO BE DILIGENT IN OUR WORK AND WRITE CITATION AND HOPEFULLY THAT, THE SYSTEM WHETHER THAT'S IT HE PROSECUTION OR WHEN THEY'RE IN FRONT OF A JUDGE, TRYING TO SAY THEY ARE NOT GUILTY OF THE OFFENSE THEY WERE CITED FOR, AT THAT POINT IN TIME, IT WOULD SHOW UP THAT THEY'RE HABITUAL.

BECAUSE REALLY, OUR JOB IS TO INITIATE PEOPLE INTO THIS CRIMINAL SYSTEM.

ARRESTS OR CRIMINAL OFFENSES OR WRITING CITATIONS SUCH AS TRAFFIC OFFENSES AND PUSHING THEM INTO THE SYSTEMS OF THE COURT.

AND THEN AT THAT POINT, REALLY OUR FUNCTION IS DONE.

OTHER THAN COMING TO COURT, MAYBE LATER ON TO TESTIFY.

IT'S UP TO THE SYSTEM, REST OF THE LEGS OF THE STOOL CRIMINAL SYSTEM TO TAKE HOLD FROM THERE AND TAKE ACTION.

I WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS OR READILY AVAILABLE ACCESS TO LOOK AT SOMEBODY'S RECORD ON CITATIONS.

>> TECHNOLOGY PART IS EASY FIX.

FOR US TO CHANGE PROGRAMMING, IS VERY SIMPLE.

STATE'S SYSTEMS ARE ALL CONNECTED.

ISSUE IS EVEN IF I KNOW THAT THAT PERSON IS HABITUAL OFFENDER, I'M LEFT WITH THE SAME DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE VIOLATION.

PERSON IS GOING TO GET THE SAME CITATION WOULD HAVE GOTTEN OTHERWISE.

GET ARREST BASED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

THAT'S RIGHT WHERE OFFICERS ARE TODAY.

WITHOUT THAT KNOWLEDGE.

GOING TO BE SOME SORT OF ENHANCEMENT OR ABILITY TO TAKE THE CAR WE CAN MAKE THAT TECHNOLOGY WORK TO ENABLE THAT FUNCTIONALITY PIGGYBACK.

OFFICERS MAKES ARREST IN LIEU CITING CITATION, INDIVIDUAL GETS ARRESTED.

>> CAN'T BAIL OUT SPEND THE NIGHT IN JAIL.

GO TO COURT NEXT DAY.

TIME SERVED THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUT YOU GO.

SO THAT IS NOT THE WAY DO BUSINESS.

>>Daryl: WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

LEONARD FROM NANAKULI HAS A PRETTY STRONG STATEMENT HERE.

MAJORITY OF THE PANEL SHOULD REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THE TWO PARENTS WOULD LOST THEIR CHILDREN NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THEIR BEING SHORT STAFFED.

TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND SAFETY CHECKS.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TWO OF YOU GET THE LAST WORD TONIGHT.

LETS START WITH YOU.

WHAT DO WE TAKE AWAY FROM THIS?

WHAT ARE YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS?

>> WE NEED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO SAVE MORE LIVES.

THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR.

I'M NOT ASKING FOR SPEED BUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

HABITUAL OFFENDERS, WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WHATEVER IT IS, LET'S SAVE ANOTHER LIFE OR MORE.

LIKE MY DAUGHTER HAD TO BE BROUGHT TO LIFE.

WHAT OUR LAW WAS LIKE.

I MEAN, IT HAD TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AT LEAST FOR SARA, MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE DON'T LET HER DIE IN VAIN.

LET'S SAVE ANOTHER LIFE ANOTHER CHILD'S LIFE.

>>Yunji: MR. WARNER, GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT MINUTE LEFT.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.

SHOWS EXPERTS THAT WE COULD ADDRESS A LOT OF CONCERNS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOSE LOVED ONES.

ALL I CAN DO IS KEEP BRINGING AWARENESS ABOUT DRINKING AND DRIVING OUT THERE.

AND WHAT I WANT TO DO IS TAKE IT TO THE SCHOOLS.

WE NEED TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS SO THEY CAN SOMETIMES EDUCATE THEIR PARENTS WHERE THEY CAN TAKE THE KEYS AWAY IF THEY KNOW THE PARENTS IS DRINKING.

AND I'M NEVER GOING TO STOP BRINGING ‑‑ TOOK ME TO LOSE A LOVED ONE TO KEEP FIGHTING SO WE CAN PROTECT INNOCENT VICTIMS OUT THERE.

>>Yunji: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THIS IS WITHOUT AN EASY SOLUTION THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE ARE HERE TONIGHT, TO BRING THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER FOR A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND HOPEFULLY A WAY FORWARD.

REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR GUESTS AT HOME BEING PART OF TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT MONTH FOR ANOTHER KAKOU TO TALK ABOUT HAWAII'S BRAIN DRAIN.

OUR STATE IS EXPORTING ONE OF OUR GREATEST ASSETS.

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

HOW DO WE CONVINCE OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST TO MAKE THEIR LIVES HERE?

ARE THEY SIMPLY BETTER OFF LEAVING?

BOTTOMLINE IF I’M A STUDENT: SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?

WE HOPE YOU JOIN US THEN.

I’M YUNJI DE NIES.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, ALOHA.