Hawaiʻi has the longest average probation terms in the country — more than double the national average — something lawmakers appear poised to change this year as part of a broader slate of revisions to the state’s criminal code.
State and national research has shown that a large percentage of people don’t reoffend while on probation, and most people who do commit another crime while under court-ordered supervision do so within the first year.
kAmw@H6G6C[ =6?8E9J AC@32E:@? E6C>D :?4C62D6 E96 =:<6=:9@@5 E92E D@>6@?6 H:== 36 :?42C46C2E65 ?@E 7@C 4C:>:?2= 4@?5F4E 3FE 7@C >:?@C AC@32E:@? G:@=2E:@?D =:<6 >:DD:?8 >66E:?8D H:E9 E96:C AC@32E:@? @77:46C @C A@DD6DD:?8 5CF8D 2?5 72:=:?8 E@ 4@>A=J H:E9 EC62E>6?E]k^Am
kAmp3@FE 6G6CJ `_ J62CD[ DE2<69@=56CD 7C@> 24C@DD w2H2:ʻ:’D 4C:>:?2= ;FDE:46 DJDE6> — 7C@> AC@D64FE@CD 2?5 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E E@ G:4E:>D 25G@42E6D 2?5 5676?D6 2EE@C?6JD — E2<6 2? 6IE6?D:G6 =@@< 2E E96 DE2E6’D A6?2= 4@56[ H9:49 =:DED 4C:>:?2= @776?D6D 2?5 E96:C AF?:D9>6?ED] w:DE@C:42==J[ :E’D 366? 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ E24<=6 D@>6 @7 E96 E9@C?:6DE :DDF6D 2?5 AFD9 C67@C>D E9C@F89 E96 {68:D=2EFC6] %96 492:C @7 E96 w@FD6 yF5:4:2CJ r@>>:EE66 D2:5 96’D @AE:>:DE:4 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4:G:=362E]5:8:E2=56>@4C24J]@C8^3:==D^9:0a_ad_D3afa`QmE96 3:== 4@?E2:?:?8 E9@D6 492?86Dk^2m H:== A2DD]k^Am
kAm$@>6 @7 E96 C64@>>6?565 492?86D E9:D J62C 2C6 >:?@C[ =:<6 E96 6=:>:?2E:@? @7 766D 7@C 4@FCE\@C56C65 2?<=6 >@?:E@CD 2?5 C65F4:?8 9@H =@?8 AC@D64FE@CD 42? 8@ 27E6C A6@A=6 7@C A2C<:?8 E:4<6ED] ~E96CD[ =:<6 E96 564C62D6 😕 AC@32E:@? E6C>D 2?5 2 >@G6 E@ >2<6 A@DD6DD:@? @7 EC246 2>@F?ED @7 5CF8D 2 >:D56>62?@C :?DE625 @7 2 76=@?J[ H:== :>A24E 9F?5C65D[ :7 ?@E E9@FD2?5D[ @7 w2H2:ʻ: C6D:56?ED 6249 J62C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 AF3=:4 5676?56C’D @77:46]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 DE2CE:?8 E@ C66G2=F2E6 D@>6 AC24E:46D E92E 92G6 366? 😕 A=246 7@C 2? :?4C65:3=J =@?8 E:>6[” w2J=6J r96?8[ 7:CDE 56AFEJ H:E9 E96 ~77:46 @7 E96 !F3=:4 s676?56C[ D2:5] %96 492?86D 2C6 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ “E@ 36EE6C 255C6DD D@>6 @7 E96 4@?46C?D 2?5 >2J36 @FE52E65 AC24E:46D E92E H6 H6C6 @A6C2E:?8 F?56C]”k^Am
k9am#65F4:?8 !C@32E:@? u@C }@?\’:@=6?E u6=@?:6Dk^9am
kAmyF586D 92?565 @FE >@C6 E92? `f[___ AC@32E:@? @C56CD 😕 w2H2:ʻ: 36EH66? yF=J a_ac 2?5 yF?6 a_ad]k^Am
kAmp3@FE cdT @7 A6@A=6 @? 76=@?J AC@32E:@? 😕 w2H2:ʻ: 😕 a_`d 2?5 a_`e 5:5?’E 86E 😕 2?J EC@F3=6 H9:=6 F?56C DFA6CG:D:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 a_`h DEF5J 3J E96 w2H2:ʻ: x?E6C286?4J r@F?4:= 7@C x?E6C>65:2E6 $2?4E:@?D] %96 DEF5J 5:5?’E 5:776C6?E:2E6 36EH66? A6@A=6 H9@ 4@>>:EE65 ?6H @776?D6D 2?5 E9@D6 H9@ @?=J G:@=2E65 E96:C AC@32E:@? E6C>D]k^Am
kAm~FE @7 `[b_` 76=@?J AC@32E:@?6CD[ dbb — 23@FE c`T — H6C6 2CC6DE65 @C G:@=2E65 E96:C AC@32E:@? H:E9:? E96 7:CDE J62C] p?@E96C `e_ A6@A=6 H6C6 2CC6DE65 @C G:@=2E65 AC@32E:@? 😕 E96:C D64@?5 J62C @? AC@32E:@?] qJ E96 E9:C5 J62C[ E92E ?F>36C 5C@AA65 E@ ;FDE `c A6@A=6]k^Am
kAmtIE6?565 A6C:@5D @7 AC@32E:@? 2C6 2 H2DE6 @7 C6D@FC46D E92E 2C6 “2E =62DE[ F??646DD2CJ[ 2E H@CDE[ 92C>7F=[ H96? H6’C6 DA6?5:?8 E:>6 DFA6CG:D:?8 A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 2E =@H C:D< E@ 4@>>:E 2?J D6C:@FD @776?D6[” D2:5 s2G:5 |F92>>25[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 }2E:@?2= x?DE:EFE6 7@C rC:>:?2= yFDE:46 #67@C>]k^Am
kAm{@?86C AC@32E:@? E6C>D 42? 2=D@ 4C62E6 AC@3=6>D 7@C A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 ;FDE ECJ:?8 E@ >66E 2== E96 C6DEC:4E:G6 C6BF:C6>6?ED]k^Am
kAm!6@A=6 2C6 C6BF:C65 E@ 2EE6?5 C68F=2C >66E:?8D H:E9 E96:C AC@32E:@? @77:46C 2?5 42? 36 DF3;64E E@ C2?5@> D62C496D @7 E96:C 9@FD6 @C 42C] %96J 42? 2=D@ 36 AC@9:3:E65 7C@> =62G:?8 E96 4@FCE’D ;FC:D5:4E:@? H:E9@FE A6C>:DD:@?[ C6BF:C65 E@ 7@==@H 2 4FC76H 2?5 6G6? 36 C6DEC:4E65 7C@> =62G:?8 E96:C 9@FD6] %96 DEC:?86?E C6BF:C6>6?ED 42? >2<6 :E 92C5 7@C A6@A=6 E@ 9@=5 5@H? 2 ;@3 @C D64FC6 9@FD:?8[ 3@E9 @7 H9:49 2C6 @7E6? C6BF:C6>6?ED @7 E96:C AC@32E:@?]k^Am
kAm’:@=2E:?8 E96 E6C>D @7 E96:C AC@32E:@? 42? =2?5 A6@A=6 😕 ;2:=[ 6G6? H:E9@FE 3C62<:?8 E96 =2H]k^Am
kAm“%96 =@?86C x’> 36:?8 DFA6CG:D65[ E96 >@C6 =:<6=J :E 😀 J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ 42E49 >6 FA 😕 5@:?8 D@>6E9:?8 E92E’D 2 G:@=2E:@? @7 E96 E6C>D @7 >J DFA6CG:D:@?[” |F92>>25 D2:5] “xE >:89E 36 >:?@C[ 3FE 3642FD6 E92E >62?D x’> DF3;64E E@ C6:?42C46C2E:@?[ E96 92C>D 2C6 D:8?:7:42?E]”k^Am
kAmp5G@42E6D 7@C 4C:>:?2= ;FDE:46 C67@C> D2J AC@32E:@? E:>6D 42? 36 D9@CE6C H:E9@FE :?4C62D:?8 C64:5:G:D>] u@C |F92>>25[ :E’D 23@FE 36:?8 “D>2CE @? 4C:>6]”k^Am
kAm“(6 D9:7E @FC 7@4FD E@ 92G6 8C62E6C 6?8286>6?E H:E9 E96 D>2== ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 2DD6DD65 2D 9:89[ @C 6G6? G6CJ 9:89] x C62==J E9:?< E92E E92E 364@>6D 2 H:?\H:?[” 96 D2:5] “&??646DD2CJ DFA6CG:D:@? E92E @7E6? 42? 364@>6 92C>7F= 42? 8@ 2H2J[ 2?5 E96? H6 42? :>AC@G6 AF3=:4 D276EJ 3J :?4C62D:?8 2?5 7@4FD:?8 @? E96 :?5:G:5F2=D E92E ?665 :E]”k^Am
kAmu@C >6>36CD @7 E96 p5G:D@CJ r@>>:EE66 @? !6?2= r@56 #6G:6H[ :E H2D ;2CC:?8 E@ =62C? E92E w2H2:ʻ: 92D =@?86C AC@32E:@? E6C>D E92? 2?J @E96C DE2E6[ :?4=F5:?8 >@C6 4@?D6CG2E:G6 DE2E6D[ H:E9@FE 36EE6C C6DF=ED] %92E 724E@C65 :?E@ E96 4@>>:EE66’D C64@>>6?52E:@? E92E AC@32E:@? 7@C 46CE2:? =@H\=6G6=[ ?@?\G:@=6?E 76=@?:6D 36 C65F465 7C@> 7@FC E@ E9C66 J62CD]k^Am
kAm%96 492?86 H@F=5 ?@E 2AA=J E@ A6@A=6 @? AC@32E:@? 7@C 2DD2F=E[ E6CC@C:DE:4 E9C62E6?:?8[ <:5?2AA:?8[ 6IE@CE:@? @C 2CD@?]k^Am
kAmtG6? :7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4:G:=362E]5:8:E2=56>@4C24J]@C8^3:==D^9:0a_ad_D3afa`Qm$6?2E6 q:== afa` A2DD6Dk^2m[ E9C66 J62CD H@F=5 DE:== 36 @? E96 =@?8 D:56 ?2E:@?2==J 7@C =@H\=6G6=[ ?@?\G:@=6?E 76=@?:6D[ |F92>>25 D2:5] !F3=:4 5676?56CD =:<6 r96?8 H@F=5 =:<6 E@ D66 :E D9@CE6C]k^Am
kAmqFE @E96C >6>36CD @7 E96 A6?2= 4@56 C6G:6H 4@>>:EE66 @AA@D65 564C62D:?8 E96 =6?8E9 @7 AC@32E:@? 7@C 46CE2:? 4C:>6D] %96 pEE@C?6J v6?6C2=’D @77:46 H2D 4@?46C?65 23@FE D@>6 @7 E96 @776?D6D E92E H@F=5 ?@H 86E 2 D9@CE6C DE:?E[ :?4=F5:?8 H:E?6DD :?E:>:52E:@? 2?5 C6E2=:2E:@?[ 288C2G2E65 92C2DD>6?E 3J DE2=<:?8[ 4CF6=EJ E@ 2?:>2=D 2?5 AC@>@E:?8 A@C?@8C2A9J @7 2 >:?@C] |6>36CD @7 E96 rC:>6 ‘:4E:> r@>A6?D2E:@? r@>>:DD:@? 2=D@ 2C8F65 E92E C65F4:?8 AC@32E:@? E6C>D H@F=5 D9:7E E96 3FC56? @7 4@==64E:?8 C6DE:EFE:@? 7C@> E96 4@FCED E@ E96 4C:>6 G:4E:> 27E6C AC@32E:@? 6IA:C6D]k^Am
kAmq642FD6 2 >2;@C:EJ @7 E96 4@>>:EE66 2AAC@G65 E96 492?86D[ =2H>2<6CD D2:5 E96J 2C6 :?4=:?65 E@ 7@==@H E96 C64@>>6?52E:@?D]k^Am
kAm“x H2?E65 E@ >@G6 :E @FE[ 7@C E96 >@DE A2CE[ F?2>6?565 3642FD6 x H2?E65 :E E@ 36 C67=64E:G6 @7 E9:D 4@==23@C2E:G6 AC@46DD[” D2:5 #6A] s2G:5 %2C?2D[ 492:C @7 E96 w@FD6 yF5:4:2CJ r@>>:EE66] %2C?2D :?EC@5F465 E96 w@FD6 G6CD:@? @7 E96 3:== 2?5 DFAA@CED E96 p5G:D@CJ r@>>:EE66 @? !6?2= r@56 #6G:6H’D C64@>>6?52E:@?D] “xE’D 2 4@>AC@>:D6] xE’D ?@E 6G6CJE9:?8]”k^Am
k9am{6DD !F?:D9>6?E[ |@C6 #6923:=:E2E:@? u@C p55:4E:@?k^9am
kAmp?@E96C AC@A@D65 492?86 E@ E96 DE2E6’D A6?2= 4@56 H@F=5 3C:?8 w2H2:‘: 😕 =:?6 H:E9 2 ?2E:@?2= >@G6>6?E E@ C65F46 A6?2=E:6D 7@C 5CF8 A@DD6DD:@?] }6H *@C< 67764E:G6=J 5:D>2?E=65 :ED’f_D\6C2 5CF8 =2HD 😕 a__h 3J 6?5:?8 =6?8E9J >2?52E@CJ >:?:>F> AC:D@? D6?E6?46D 2?5 :?4C62D:?8 6=:8:3:=:EJ 7@C 5:G6CD:@? E@ EC62E>6?E] $@>6 DE2E6D — :?4=F5:?8 r2=:7@C?:2 😕 a_`c 2?5 r@??64E:4FE 😕 a_`d — C64=2DD:7:65 >@DE 5CF8 @776?D6D 2D >:D56>62?@CD C2E96C E92? 76=@?:6D]k^Am
kAmxE’D A2CE @7 2 “C62=:K2E:@? E92E 5CF8D 2C6 2 AF3=:4 962=E9 :DDF6 2?5 E92E AF?:D9:?8 A6@A=6 D6G6C6=J 7@C :E >:89E ?@E 86E J@F H92E J@F H2?E[ H9:49 AC6DF>23=J 😀 A6@A=6 E@ DE@A FD:?8 5CF8D[” |2CE2 }6=D@?[ H9@ =625D E96 D6?E6?4:?8 C67@C> :?:E:2E:G6 2E E96 ‘6C2 x?DE:EFE6 @7 yFDE:46[ D2:5]k^Am
kAmw2H2:‘:’D AC@A@D65 =2H H@F=5 >2<6 A@DD6DD:@? @7 D>2== 2>@F?ED @7 5CF8D 2 >:D56>62?@C[ C2E96C E92? 2 76=@?J] %96 4@FCE H@F=5 36 C6BF:C65 E@ @C56C 2 DF3DE2?46 23FD6 2DD6DD>6?E 2?5 4@F=5 C6BF:C6 D@>6@?6 E@ 86E EC62E>6?E] x?42C46C2E:@? H@F=5?’E <:4< 😕 F?E:= E96 E9:C5 @776?D6[ 2?5 6G6? E96?[ :E H@F=5 36 D:I >@?E9D — 72C =6DD E92? E96 7:G6 J62CD F?56C E96 4FCC6?E =2H]k^Am
kAm%96 492?86 😀 E2C86E65 2E A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 2CC6DE65 H:E9 EC246 2>@F?ED @7 5CF8D 😕 2 A:A6 @C 2 3288:6 2?5 ?@E9:?8 >@C6] %96 :>A24E[ r96?8 D2:5[ H@F=5 36 DH66A:?8 7@C 3@E9 :?5:G:5F2=D 2?5 E96 3C@256C 4C:>:?2= ;FDE:46 DJDE6>]k^Am
kAm#:89E ?@H[ r96?8 6DE:>2E6D E96 4@FCED 2C6 3@8865 5@H? H:E9 9F?5C65D @7 76=@?J >:?@C 5CF8 A@DD6DD:@? 42D6D E92E :?G@=G6 A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 DECF88=:?8 H:E9 255:4E:@? 3FE 5@?’E 92G6 6?@F89 5CF8D E@ :?5:42E6 E96J’C6 D6==:?8 E96>] q642FD6 A@DD6DD:@? @7 2?J 2>@F?E @7 5CF8D =:<6 >6E9 2?5 96C@:? 😀 4FCC6?E=J 2 76=@?J[ 5676?52?ED 2C6 =6DD =:<6=J E@ 36 C6=62D65 AC6\EC:2= 2?5 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 36 :?42C46C2E65[ :?4C62D:?8 E96 4@DED E@ E2IA2J6CD] u6=@?:6D 2C6 92?5=65 😕 r:C4F:E r@FCE[ H96C6 E96J E2<6 >@C6 E:>6 E@ C6D@=G6 2?5 :?G@=G6 >@C6 =:E:82E:@? 4@>A2C65 E@ >:D56>62?@CD 😕 s:DEC:4E r@FCE]k^Am
kAm%96 564C62D6 >2<6D 2 3:8 5:776C6?46 7@C E96 :?5:G:5F2=[ E@@] u6=@?J 4@?G:4E:@?D 42? 9FCE D@>6@?6’D 23:=:EJ E@ 86E 2 ;@3 @C D64FC6 9@FD:?8[ 2?5 4@DE E96> E96 C:89E E@ G@E6]k^Am
kAm“xE C62==J 😀 2 DE2:? @? J@FC =:76E:>6 4C:>:?2= C64@C5 E92E 92D 4@?D6BF6?46D E92E =2DE 2 =:76E:>6[ 2?5 E92E’D :?4C65:3=J 5:776C6?E 7C@> 2 >:D56>62?@C[” r96?8 D2:5]k^Am
kAm}6=D@? E9:? 2 76=@?J E@ 2 >:D56>62?@C H:== 2==@H w2H2:ʻ: E@ E2<6 2 >@C6 AF3=:4 962=E9\46?E6C65 2AAC@249]k^Am
kAm“$6G6C:EJ 5@6D?’E 5@ :E[” D96 D2:5] “(92E 5@6D 5@ :E[ 😕 E96 42D6 @7 5CF8D[ 😀 2G2:=23=6 EC62E>6?E @AE:@?D]”k^Am
kAm%96 492?86D E@ E96 A6?2= 4@56 AC@A@D65 😕 $q afa` 5@?’E 6IA2?5 EC62E>6?E @AE:@?D[ 2 49C@?:4 :DDF6 H96? :E 4@>6D E@ E24<=:?8 5CF8 FD6 2?5 255:4E:@? 😕 E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAm$E:==[ 25G@42E6D 7@C 4C:>:?2= ;FDE:46 C67@C> D66 E96 C64@>>6?565 492?86D 2D 2? :?5:42E:@? E92E w2H2:ʻ: 😀 E2<:?8 DE6AD E@ 3F:=5 2 4C:>:?2= ;FDE:46 DJDE6> E92E 😀 >@C6 C@@E65 😕 C6D62C49 @? 36DE AC24E:46D[ >@C6 C6923:=:E2E:G6 2?5 >@C6 C6DA@?D:G6 E@ E96 ?665D @7 GF=?6C23=6 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< H6’C6 9625:?8 😕 E96 C:89E 5:C64E:@? D@ E92E H6 2C6 H@C<:?8 E@ 4C62E6 2 4C:>:?2= ;FDE:46 DJDE6> E92E 😀 72:C 2?5 C6DE@C2E:G6[ ?@E ;FDE AF?:E:G6[” %2C?2D D2:5]k^Am
kAm“%96D6 2C6 >2;@C A2C25:8> D9:7ED[” 96 25565] “p?5 E96J 5@?’E 4@>6 62DJ]”k^Am
k9C ^m
kAm%9:D DE@CJ H2D @C:8:?2==J AF3=:D965 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4:G:=362E]@C8^Qmw@?@=F=F r:G:= q62Ek^2m 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 E9C@F89 2 A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD]k^Am