HI HB1253

Establishes the Hawaii Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) program statewide, to be administered by the judiciary in consultation with public defenders and county prosecuting attorneys

Targets higher-risk felony probationers with immediate, swift, and proportionate jail sanctions for probation violations, including 2 days for admitted positive drug tests, 15 days for denied positive tests confirmed by lab, and 30 days for tampering with drug tests

Requires randomized drug testing for appropriate participants, with probation officers authorized to immediately take participants into custody upon a positive test and schedule a court hearing within two business days

Assigns one primary judge and one backup judge per circuit to implement the program, with both a prosecutor and defense attorney present at each hearing

Builds on the original HOPE model developed in Honolulu from 2004-2019, which studies showed reduced arrests by 55%, drug use by 72%, and days incarcerated by 48% compared to regular probation