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permanent positions. And we have a special investigator. <br /> We also have actually three programs set up. . .we! have the <br /> Hawaii Career Criminal Prosecution Program which consists of <br /> two deputy prosecutors , a legal stenographer and a special <br /> investigator. This is a state funded program and has funds <br /> right now until June of this year and we are hoping it will <br /> be passed on in the budget for the next two years. We have <br /> the Rural Deputy Program which consists of a deputy prosecutor <br /> and a legal stenographer out in the Kona district that services <br /> the West Hawaii area,---Ka'u, Kona, North Kohala, South Kohala, <br /> and we have the Victim-Witness Counseling Program which is a <br /> federal grant program which consists right now of one <br /> counselor who assists victims in finding their way through <br /> the criminal-justice system. We have one CETA clerk-steno. <br /> MRS . KOBAYASHI : You have 7 attorneys? <br /> MR. ONO: No, I believe we have 8 attorneys, <br /> counting myself. <br /> MRS . KOBAYASHI : I assume since crime', is on <br /> the rise that your caseload. ...what is your caseload like then? <br /> MR. ONO: It is very difficult to say what a <br /> current caseload is. I know each deputy has anywhere from <br /> ten to fifty pending felony cases and the misdemeanor cases <br /> we really don ' t know, it is just quite overwhelming. <br /> MRS . KOBAYASHI : Is it a tremendous increase <br /> say, from last year, or five years ago? <br /> Z. <br /> ONO: Six years ago we had something like <br /> 3 felony trials the whole year. . .or I should say, 3 jury trials <br /> the whole year and within the last couple of years, I think , we <br /> have averaged somewhere between 20 to 36 trials. So there has <br /> been a tremendous increase. <br /> MR. CADINHA: With this clause, "The prosecu- <br /> ting attorney may appoint investigators who shall have all the <br /> powers and privileges of a police officer of the county". <br /> You say this is basically redundant and is currently done but <br /> this would be a housekeeping insertion. <br /> MR. ONO: Yes , it is already by statute. <br /> MR. CADINHA: Okay. So, mechanically what <br /> happens? When do you have authority to go hire investigators? <br /> MR. ONO: We already have an investigator. <br /> MR. CADINHA: You have one, this is a plural . <br /> MR. ONO: The reason it is in plural is we <br /> hope someday to have more than just one investigator. <br /> MR. CADINHA: I don ' t understand. . .what I am <br /> trying to get to is are we suddenly going to have a special <br /> investigation section that is going to be running out that is <br /> different than the Police Department? <br /> -19- <br />