STAND. COM. REP. 1669

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.C.R. No. 86

S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 86, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONVENING A TASK FORCE TO DETERMINE WHETHER HAWAII SHOULD ENACT A THREE STRIKES LAW,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to convene a task force chaired by the Dean of the University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law, to study and determine whether Hawaii should enact a three strikes law.

Your Committee finds that twenty-six other states, including California, and the federal government have enacted three strikes or enhanced sentencing laws. California reports that the three strikes law has been an effective tool in helping to lower the crime rate by career offenders. This California law was upheld by the United States Supreme Court in Ewing v. California as not cruel and unusual punishment.

However, your Committee believes that caution dictates that it is in the State's best interest to "think things through" before enacting a law that may greatly impact Hawaii's criminal justice system and correctional facilities.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 86, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

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

 

____________________________

ERIC G. HAMAKAWA, Chair