COM 0193.017 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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One deputy in Hilo and one in Kona are assigned as the Community Oriented Prosecutors who work closely with Community Police officers in educating and empowering communities to unify against crime. Edward Byme Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Grant funding ended in September 2005. Begun as a federal demonstration project in 2001, the COP unit has provided leadership bringing law enforcement and the community together to address crime problems proactively and cooperatively. The unit also includes an investigator and legal clerk who work closely with the project deputy for casework and interagency and community activities. The conversion of these grant funded positions in 2005 ensures the direct ]ink between the criminal justice system and the community can continue to further develop safe and strong communities. Community Gun Violence Prosecution Program The goal of the Community Gun Violence Prosecution program is to deter crime and positively affect the community's perception of safety by prosecuting firearm related crimes in a rapid, responsive and effective manner. The primary objectives of the program are to develop and implement an intake process to expedite screening and charging of violent crimes involving guns and to employ a vertical prosecution strategy. Two deputy prosecutors, now county-funded, are supported by two other deputies who have been cross designated as special assistant U.S. Attorneys as par[ of the Project Safe Neighborhood Community Gun Violence program. We have worked cooperatively with the U.S. Attorney's Office to identify dangerous defendants in our community who represent a significant risk to the community and who aze now being prosecuted in the Federal system under the Project Safe Neighborhood program. The majority of these defendants would qualify as career criminal defendants under the can-ent statutory criteria. Many of these defendants who aze drug users or commit domestic violence with firearms have now been removed from the community. Dru¢ Prosecution Federal funding for the Mayor's War on Ice has provided our office with two deputy prosecuting attorneys. Their work has concentrated on individuals and organizations distributing large quantities of ice and other drugs. In the two yeaz funding cycle of the project, the impact of their work on criminality, rehabilitation, drug treatment and social and health indicators will not be evident. In fact, as focus on the issue heightens, these measures generally increase before they decrease. As anticipated, there is need for a~~ investigator to support these deputies as cases move through the judicial process. The full measure and impact of the unit will not be known for at least five to ten years, well beyond the federal funding cycle. Continued funding of the program in all aspects of treatment/prevention, intervention and law enforcement must be obtained to successfully impact the Ice problem for Hawaii County. 1]