Criminal Justice

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 278: RELATING TO POLICING.

Requires county police departments and police oversight agencies to collect and report certain data regarding police stops, uses of force, and complaints to the Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division of the Department of the Attorney General. Requires the Division to collect and publish incident-level information and an annual report on the data collected. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires police data collection on stops/uses of force to enhance accountability, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Tags Data Reporting

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1197: RELATING TO CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY.

Authorizes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to utilize student education partnerships to increase the amount of mental health care providers in correctional facilities across the State. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes DC&R to expand mental health providers in prisons via student partnerships, funding rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism in correctional facilities.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds student partnerships to increase mental health providers in correctional facilities, directly expanding access to mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 2457: RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE.

Amends forfeiture laws to require the owner of property seized in relation to a crime to be convicted of the covered offense before the property may be forfeited.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires criminal conviction before property forfeiture, strengthening due process and protecting civil rights in criminal justice proceedings.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 2044: RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY.

Expands programming and training for the comprehensive offender reentry program under the department of corrections and rehabilitation to reduce the rate of recidivism and increase inmate marketability. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for offender reentry programs, directly allocating budget resources to fund essential correctional services.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands offender reentry programs to reduce recidivism, directly aligning with criminal justice reform goals and funding rehabilitation initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 45: RELATING TO RESTITUTION.

Provides for the making of restitution by a defendant who has been convicted of violating section 707-702.5(1)(a), HRS, where the violation caused the death of a parent or legal guardian of a child.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates restitution for negligent homicide causing child's parent death, directly supporting victim compensation within criminal justice system.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 151: RELATING TO REDRESS FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION AND IMPRISONMENT.

Requires the State to provide written notice to certain persons regarding the ability to file a claim for redress under applicable wrongful conviction law. Requires the liberal construction of that law. Provides for advance compensation for petitioners under certain circumstances. Requires reports to Legislature from the Department of the Attorney General.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides compensation and procedural support for wrongful conviction claims, advancing civil rights and accountability in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 128: RELATING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

Establishes factors under which officers may, without warrant, arrest and detain persons for petty misdemeanors and violations. Requires officers to record the factors that justified the warrantless arrest. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes warrantless arrest guidelines with officer documentation requirement, enhancing accountability and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 1790: RELATING TO POLICING.

Establishes the Hawaii Center for Policing and Criminal Justice Research within the Social Science Research Institute, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa to house the Hawaii Crime Lab. Requires law enforcement agencies and law enforcement oversight agencies to collect and report certain data regarding law enforcement stops, uses of force, and complaints to the Hawaii Crime Lab. Requires the Hawaii Crime Lab to collect and publish incident-level information and an annual report on the data collected. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to adopt rules, in coordination with the Hawaii Crime Lab, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and any community advisory boards. Appropriates funds for the establishment and operation of the Hawaii Center for Policing and Criminal Justice Research within the Social Science Research Institute, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa to support implementation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates data collection on stops/uses of force to enhance police accountability, a key criminal justice reform measure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 492: RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE.

Prohibits civil asset forfeiture unless the covered offense is a felony for which the property owner has been convicted. Excludes the forfeiture proceedings for an animal pending criminal charges. Requires the Attorney General to deposit the net proceeds of the forfeited property to the credit of the state general fund.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts civil forfeiture to felony convictions, reducing potential abuse and protecting property rights - aligns with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 433: RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for reentry services to connect offenders with community-based services. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds reentry services to connect offenders with community resources, directly supporting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism per criminal justice reform indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Tags Public Safety

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