HI HB634

Establishes a five-year pilot program within the judiciary allowing eligible criminal defendants and their victims to participate in restorative justice processes.

Excludes defendants charged with class A or B felonies or violent crimes as defined in Hawaii Revised Statutes section 351-32 from program eligibility.

Requires courts to inform eligible defendants of restorative justice rights during pretrial conferences and mandates court approval, victim agreement, and prosecuting attorney approval for participation.

Permits courts to dismiss charged offenses upon successful completion of restorative justice processes with victim and prosecuting attorney approval.

Requires judiciary to submit interim reports to the legislature in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and a final report by 2024 with recommendations on program efficacy and whether to make it permanent; appropriates unspecified funding for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.