Criminal Justice (Sentencing)

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 896: RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENSES.

Provides for a sentence of death or life imprisonment without possibility of parole upon a conviction for sex trafficking. Requires a separate sentencing proceeding by a jury, except if waived by the defendant, for a conviction for sex trafficking. Makes commercial sexual exploitation a class A felony. Makes conforming amendments.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates death penalty or life without parole for sex trafficking, increasing mandatory sentences and expanding criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 285: RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Prohibits the possession, transfer, and sale of ghost guns. Establishes mandatory minimum sentencing for use of a ghost gun in the commission of a felony.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeImposes mandatory minimums for ghost gun felonies, increasing sentencing severity without reform elements90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Sentencing

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 383: RELATING TO ORDERS FOR PROTECTION.

Reinstates mandatory minimum jail sentences for successive violations of the same order for protection. Removes the distinction between domestic and non-domestic violations of an order for protection. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeReinstates mandatory minimums for protection order violations, removing domestic/non-domestic distinctions - increases sentencing severity per indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Sentencing

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 1592: RELATING TO ASSAULT.

Elevates criminal penalties for assaults committed against educational workers and sports officials, while preserving appropriate judicial discretion at sentencing. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeElevates penalties for assaults on educational workers/sports officials, increasing sentencing severity without reform focus.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Violent Crime

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 836: RELATING TO PENALTIES.

Mandates courts to impose an enhanced sentence for theft and burglary offenses over a certain property value threshold. Increases penalties for habitual property crime perpetrators. Targets fencing operations and imposes enhanced sentencing to those who knowingly receive stolen property or resell such property.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory sentences for property crimes, expands criminalization without reform elements. Directly opposes justice reform indicators like reducing recidivism or enhancing rehabilitation.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 778: RELATING TO SENTENCING.

SB 778 prohibits judges from sentencing defendants classified as "emerging adults" (typically young adults aged 18-25) to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. This bill directly affects young adults who are tried and convicted as adults for crimes committed while in this age range. The key provision removes life without parole as a sentencing option for these individuals, requiring judges to consider alternatives like prison terms with the possibility of parole. The bill focuses on changing sentencing practices for a specific age group within the adult criminal justice system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves life without parole for emerging adults, promoting rehabilitation over harsh sentencing per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole Sentencing

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signed · Hawaii · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 1548: RELATING TO SENTENCING.

Limits the maximum term of imprisonment for misdemeanors that are not crimes of violence, or for offenses that are not crimes of violence punishable by up to or not exceeding one year, to three hundred sixty-four days. Allows individuals previously sentenced to a one-year term of imprisonment for an offense that is not a crime of violence to apply to the trial court for reconsideration of the sentence to conform to the revised maximum penalty. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeLimits misdemeanor sentences to 364 days, reducing incarceration and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to decrease prison terms.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 2252: RELATING TO THEFT.

Requires a mandatory twelve-month minimum sentence of incarceration for a conviction of theft in the first degree when the value of the property or services stolen exceeds $250,000, whether imposed as a mandatory minimum sentence for an indeterminate term of imprisonment or as a condition of probation, in addition to any other authorized disposition such as restitution or a fine.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandatory minimum sentence increases punitive measures without judicial discretion, opposing criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing Victims' Rights

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 2124: RELATING TO ARSON.

SB 2124 would require judges to impose mandatory prison sentences and maximum fines for individuals convicted of arson offenses, removing judicial discretion in sentencing. It directly affects people found guilty of arson, replacing current sentencing options with fixed penalties. The bill's key provision is a mandatory minimum prison term coupled with the highest allowable fine for all qualifying arson convictions. This policy change would standardize penalties for arson crimes across the jurisdiction. The bill is currently pending in committee review as of the latest update.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandatory minimum sentences and maximum fines remove judicial discretion, directly opposing criminal justice reform efforts that seek to reduce harsh sentencing policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2479: RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.

Allows a defendant to introduce certain evidence to receive a reduced sentence for certain offenses if the defendant can show that they were subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse, and that the acts were a significant contributing factor for the offense for which the defendant is being sentenced. Allows a defendant to introduce certain relevant evidence when raising the justification defenses of self-defense or defense of others to show that the defendant was subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse by the alleged victim. Allows the circuit court imposing a criminal sentence to correct or reduce the sentence and to suspend or probate all or any part of the sentence imposed. Allows a person previously sentenced by a circuit court to petition the court to be re-sentenced to a reduced sentence if the defendant can show that they were subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse, and that the acts were a significant contributing factor for the offense for which the defendant was sentenced. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows reduced sentences for defendants with family violence history, aligning with criminal justice reform by considering mitigating factors to reduce recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Sentencing Victims' Rights

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