STAND. COM. REP. NO.2815

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.B. No. 2528

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2528, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SENTENCING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the court to consider an extended term of imprisonment for perpetrators of crimes against family or household members that result in serious or substantial bodily injury.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney, Honolulu Police Department, and Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (Coalition). Testimony in opposition was received from the Public Defender.

Your Committee finds that domestic abuse is one of the most reprehensible crimes perpetrated in our State today. To make matters worse, these types of crimes are often the most difficult to prosecute successfully, because the perpetrator generally uses the victim's easy availability, love for their abuser, and financial dependence as a means both to facilitate the abuse and to deter cooperation with prosecution efforts.

One of the precepts of punishment in the criminal law is deterrence. Providing stiffer terms of imprisonment would serve to deter would be offenders and repeat offenders. This measure is an effort to deter the most serious kinds of domestic abuse.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2528, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

BRIAN KANNO, Chair