HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0184.029 1996-1998 s o•`-x~'
~F og + i
b
f'ff ` Third Circuit Court -Adult Probation Division -T_HE JUDICIARYSTATE_OF_HAW_AI'I
Posr OFFICE Box 1007 HILO, Hawaii 96721-1007 TELEPHONE (808) 961-7600 Fax (808) 961-7676
J:l"',
Zachary Higa
aeoennoN aonniwsrearoe February 24, 1 997
County of Hawaii FNS
County Council )2r~-/~/f~' ti
1f1W~..~.
25 Aupuni Street _ ~
F~zI_
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 ~oN_.....-Cawr+ry Coundl
Dear Members of the Council:
The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney has submitted as part of their budget a request
for a Domestic Violence {DV) Unit comprising of a DV prosacuiui, GV Victim
Advocate, DV Volunteer Coordinator, DV Interagency Team Coordinator and a Legal
Clerk. The unit is important if this county will continue to support the reduction of
domestic violence in our community. We have been fortunate to have the four-year
Federal Byrne Grant to help this county address the growing problem of domestic
violence. With the economic times, the added stresses, and the shrinking resources
more needs to be done if we are to seek a safer community for our citizens which
includes children, the elderly, as well as the able bodied individuals.
As a member of the Domestic Violence Interagency Team (DIVATI I have seen the
efforts of the team to Great a better working relationship, sharing of expertise and
resources, and commitment by people to foster a safer community. Many problems
have been addressed and solved with still others on the horizon to be addressed. I
believe the county needs to support programming to reduce domestic violence.
Domestic violences affects everyone: think about your own situations of people you
know or hear about; think about the ultimate domestic violence cases which we call
murder under emotional distress.
Please take note of the following statistics from 1985 to 1994: that of 67 homicide
cases for Hawaii County 46% of homicides were domestic violence related (31 cased,
where as for the state of Hawaii the rate was 29% (remember the Hawaii County's
cases are included in the 29%1. By population comparison per 100,000 over the ten
year period the rate was 25.8 cases for this county as compared to Honolulu which
was 11 .3 cases, Maui 8.1 cases and Kauai 7.9 cases. This only reflects the domestic
homicide rate and other statistics (Family Court Casesl will show epidemic problems.
Please honor the request to reduce domestic violence in this county.
Very truly yours,
~ ~
Zac ary Hi
Prob tion Ad inistr or
c: Prosecutor Jay Kimura
Comm Diw ~ .
t~l~ 3u>~
p78sen1ed~ ~~•'//?1
lftef. Lrat.~ 1 3 1997._..