HI SR76

Requests the Department of Public Safety to convene a working group to examine smarter sentencing and improve the quality and reliability of Hawaii's criminal justice sentencing policies and practices.

Working group must research the number of cases over the past ten years where smarter sentencing principles were applied, cases where they were applicable, and possibilities for designing and implementing a smarter sentencing process.

Working group composition includes legislative committee chairs, county prosecutors, public defenders, the Attorney General, two judicial representatives appointed by the Chief Justice, representatives from the ACLU of Hawaii, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawaii, and four community members appointed by the Governor.

Working group must select a chairperson and meet at least five times before December 31, 2015, then submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2016 Regular Session.

Working group dissolves on June 30, 2016.