DASH:
AS LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTINUES TO
TACKLE HONOLULU'S RECENT JUMP IN
VIOLENT CRIME, WE'RE KEEPING
TRACK OF HOW THE REST OF THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CAN
IMPROVE THEIR ROLES IN
PUBLIC SAFETY.
GINA MANGIERI IS ALWAYS
INVESTIGATING AND FOLLOWS UP.
I'VE BEEN PURSUING ANSWERS FROM
ASKING HOW EACH PLANS TO CRACK
DOWN ON THIS CURRENT CRIME WAVE.
ALWAYS INVESTIGATING FIRST
REVEALED THE FULL EXTENT OF
OAHU'S HUGE SPIKE IN VIOLENT
CRIMES LIKE ROBBERIES BY PUTTING
HARD NUMBERS BEHIND THE HIGH
PROFILE CASES THAT MAKE THE
THE POLICE CHIEF, MAYOR, FBI, US
ATTORNEY, COUNTY PROSECUTOR,
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE,
CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM AND THE
JUDICIARY.
IN THIS FOCUS ON PROBATION AND
PAROLE, WE ASK WHAT MORE CAN BE
DONE TO MAKE SURE CONSEQUENCES
LINE UP WITH
OFFENSES -- ESPECIALLY AFTER SO
MANY RECENT VIOLENT-CRIME-
RELATED ARRESTS ARE OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE NO STRANGERS TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
RANDAL LEE, RETIRED CIRCUIT
CUORT JUDGE:
"ASSUMING, LET'S ASSUME FOR
ARGUMENT THAT THEY GOT A
PROBATIONAL DEFERRAL, THEY NEED
TO FOLLOW UP , THE COURTS AND
PROBATION OFFICE NEED TO FOLLOW
UP REGULARLY AND MAKE SURE THAT
THESE PEOPLE ARE TOWING THE
LINE, THEY'RE WALKING THE TALK."
TROY SALAS HAD BEEN GRANTED
PROBATION INSTEAD OF STIFF JAIL
TIME, BEFORE HE WAS ACCUSED OF
DRIVING AT A POLICE OFFICER AT A
TRAFFIC STOP EARLIER THIS MONTH.
DWIGHT NADAMOTO, ACTING HONOLULU
PROSECUTOR:
"EVERYBODY NEEDS A SECOND
CHANCE, BUT WHEN THEY'RE ON
PROBATION AND THEY HAVE LIKE 1 ,
2, 3, 4, 5...THEY KEEP GETTING
VIOLATIONS. I MEAN WE NEED TO
STOP THIS.
THE STATE JUDICIARY SAID IN A
STATEMENT: "PROBATION OFFICERS
WORK DILIGENTLY WITH THEIR
CLIENTS TO ENSURE THAT
PROBATIONERS
MEET THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS...IN MOST CASES,
DEFENDANTS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE
PROBATION....CONSEQUENCES FOR
PROBATION VIOLATIONS CAN INCLUDE
INCARCERATION."
ONCE BEHIND BARS, THE PUBLIC
SAFETY DEPARTMENT TELLS ME
THEY'RE "FOCUSED ON SAFE
CUSTODY... AND PREPARING THEM
FOR REINTEGRATION ... WHILE
KEEPING THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC
OUR TOP PRIORITY."
AND ONCE OUT, THE HAWAII
PAROLING AUTHORITY SAID,
OFFICERS HELP MAKE SURE
"OFFENDERS HAVE THE RESOURCES
AND GUIDANCE
NEEDED TO HELP THEM BECOME
SUCCESSFUL CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS
OF SOCIETY. THE RECENT INCIDENTS
IN THE NEWS ARE A REMINDER OF
THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR MISSION."
WE ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE ARRESTS
IN SERIOUS CASES THAT GO ON TO
BE RPI OR "RELEASED PENDING
INVESTIGATION" -- SUCH
AS VICTOR GASCON, WHO SHERIFFS
TOOK INTO CUSTODY IN SEPTEMBER
IN CONNECTION WITH AN AIRPORT
AREA CARJACKING. HE WAS RPI,
UNTIL
POLICE CAUGHT HIM THIS MONTH
AFTER AN HOURS-LONG MANHUNT IN
WAIPAHU. POLICE SAY HE TRIED TO
STEAL A CAR AT GUNPOINT.
WE ASKED THE STATE ATTORNEY
GENERAL -- WHICH HANDLES CHARGES
FOR SHERIFF ARRESTS -- WHY HE
WAS STILL OUT WITHOUT CHARGES
SINCE HIS STATE-AUTHORITY ARREST
IN SEPTEMBER FOR UEMV,
KIDNAPPING AND FIRST-DEGREE
ROBBERY?
THE AG SPOKESPERSON TOLD US THEY
ARE STILL INVESTIGATING "THE
CRIME AND EXTENT OF THE VICTIM'S
INJURIES. THE ADDITIONAL
INVESTIGATION IS NECESSARY TO
DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE
CHARGE, AND IS CONTINUING."
IN THE SYSTEM THAT CAN BE FIXED
TO HELP TURN THE TIDE ON
HONOLULU'S CRIME WAVE. BACK TO
YOU.
DASH:
ANOTHER OVERCAST DAY WITH COOL
