COM 0140.002 2002-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Violence Against Women One deputy is federally funded to handle the misdemeanor domestic violence jury trials and sexual assault and violent crime cases committed against women in East Hawaii. This provides modified vertical prosecution which ensures that the primary benefits to the victim provided by the Domestic Violence unit continue in Circuit Court cases. Community Gun Violence Two deputies are partially funded by a federal Gun Violence Prosecution grant. The objective of the designated gun violence deputies in East and West Hawaii is to improve prosecution of violent gun crimes in a rapid, responsive and effective manner. VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANCE UNIT (VAU) The State established victim -witness assistance programs in the Department of the Attorney General to be implemented by the County prosecutors under HRS 28-111 "to provide information, assistance, and support services to the victims of and witnesses to crimes committed in the state." HRS 801 D, more commonly known as the Victims' Bill of Rights, recognized the civil and moral duty of victims and witnesses to cooperate with law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, and the importance of such cooperation for the general effectiveness and well being of the criminal justice system of this State. HRS 801D also declared the intent to ensure that all victims and witnesses of crimes are treated with dignity, respect, courtesy and sensitivity, and that the rights are honored and protected in a manner no less vigorous than the protections afforded criminal defendants. The victim counselors provide a multitude of services to victims, their significant others, and witnesses of crimes to minimize the oftentimes adverse impact of the criminal justice system. The services include, but are not limited to, notification of case and offender status, court procedure orientation, court accompaniment to provide support, assistance with criminal injuries compensation, property return, assistance with victim input for sentencing, plea agreements, and Parole Board minimum term hearings, transportation, emergency services (food, clothing, shelter, restraining orders), intercession with employers and creditors, referrals, short term and crisis counseling, making travel and other arrangements for returning witnesses, witness coordination to lessen the amount of time spent waiting at court, providing a secure waiting area for witnesses away from defendants, providing support during interviews of victims of child abuse, domestic violence, sex assault and other sensitive cases in addition to other services to deputies, presentations to community organizations and training to other agencies. The counselors also coordinate witnesses at grand jury hearings, provide support and information to witnesses and call in returns and changes to the indictment. 10