Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu
House Floor Speech
House Bill No. 2000, House Draft 2
Relating to the Judiciary
Monday, March 8, 2010
I rise in support.
Mr. Speaker, I am in favor of House Bill 2000 House Draft 2, which is the budget for the Judiciary Branch. As a reflection of these tough economic times, this measure reduces the Judiciary’s overall budget by $7.8 million for furloughs.
However, the House recognizes that specialty courts play a huge role in helping those who have gone on the wrong path to get back on the right one. Keep in mind that approximately 80% of individuals in trouble with the law are involved with drugs. A high percentage of individuals involved with drugs have family problems, are victims of physical abuse or sexual abuse, and are going through mental challenges such as post traumatic stress disorder and depression. These programs help individuals to get off of drugs, learn life skills to be productive citizens, but most importantly, it gives them hope that life can be better.
Moreover, these programs not only changes lives, but save the state a lot of money. For example, Adult Drug Court operating costs for 387 persons are $3.1 million a year, whereas, it would cost the state $19.6 million a year to put these same individuals in the prison system. For Juvenile Drug Court, the cost for 65 persons are $1 million a year, whereas, it would cost just under $6.6 million a year for the same individuals if they were placed in the prison system.
In addition, the House recognizes that the many non-profit organizations participating in purchase-of-service contracts with the Judiciary play a key role in providing essential services to help the people of Hawaii in need of assistance in our legal system.
Thus, with the specialty courts’ and purchase-of-service contracts’ proven success and cost savings, $1.5 million has been restored in this bill for their services.
In line with this Judiciary budget bill are two House bills, House Bill 1752, House Draft 1, which gives judges discretion in sentencing for non-violent repeat offenders including sending them to specialty courts and House Bill 1756, House Draft 1 that allows non-violent offenders to expunge their records upon successfully completing their sentencing so that they are able to get jobs and be a productive citizen. Therefore, these bills together with the budget bill will help individuals to turn around their lives and further save the state billions of dollars in the long run. Our country and state loves comeback stories, as reflected by many of our books and movies. Likewise, Hawaii’s specialty courts and non-profit organizations participating in the Judiciary’s purchase-of-service contracts will give our people the opportunity to make the greatest comeback in their lives.
Thank you.
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 