COM 0521.009 2002-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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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. The clerical staff of the unit are responsible for providing clerical support to the counselors and the coordinator. In addition, the Senior Clerk-Stenographer makes travel arrangements for returning witnesses and program staff. During the last six months of 2003, the unit provided services to 3,394 people. The office has developed a victim notification system where victims are now automatically notified when a case is referred to the office and when trial, change of pleas, and sentencings are scheduled. The Victim Assistance Unit is the only program that is available to ALL victims and witnesses of crime. The Unit's services directly benefit the people of Hawaii County. However, the benefits would be seriously affected if funding is inadequate to maintain sufficient staff. INVESTIGATIONS UNIT The Investigations Unit consists of seven investigators. Five are county funded, one is funded under the State Career Criminal Prosecution (CCP) grant and one is federally funded by the Community Oriented Prosecution project. The CCP investigator is assigned all cases that involve offenders that qualify as a career criminal under the Hawaii Revised Statutes. This allows the investigator to ]t