State Judiciary plans
big center for abused kids

The facility would accommodate
several different agencies

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By Lisa Asato
lasato@starbulletin.com

The state Judiciary wants to build a consolidated center where sexually abused children can be helped by major agencies, including the police and state Department of Human Services.

The Judiciary has proposed $3.5 million to start the Children's Justice Center next to Circuit Court and says the consolidation of services will help ensure that no child falls through the cracks.

A similar operation currently rents space in Nuuanu.

Walter Ozawa, the court's administrative director, told a joint gathering of the state Legislature's two money committees that the larger downtown site would improve the coordination and efficiency of services by providing one home for the Justice Center and agencies such as the Police Department, medical providers, crisis counselors and community support groups.

"Currently it's not efficient because not everyone can get there at the same time," Ozawa said later.

"This way you ... make sure all the interested parties have access to the facility and to the child victims."

The Judiciary is seeking $184.7 million in its 2003 supplemental budget request to the Legislature.

The Judiciary also requested $64 million to design and build the Hilo Judiciary Complex at the site of Kaikoo Mall, which the state is in the process of acquiring.

The Judiciary's operating funding request also includes $731,540 in general funds that would pay for three new judgeships and related staff and resources.

The additions are for one Circuit Court judge each for Maui and the Big Island and one Intermediate Court of Appeals judge, the first of two appellate judgeships authorized last year by lawmakers.

In Honolulu, the funding for the Justice Center would go toward planning, designing and acquiring, through condemnation, the Halekauwila Street parcel from landowner Kamehameha Schools.

Ozawa said later that the state Department of Land and Natural Resources is discussing condemnation with Kamehameha Schools and that the nonprofit trust is agreeable to condemnation.

He said the 45,000-square-foot site also includes a 3,000-square-foot vacant lot owned by a private group.

The proposed two-story facility would include forensic interviewing rooms with observation and video capabilities, medical examination rooms and space for counseling and family visitation and parking.