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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
HPD can give out
some case detailsQuestion: I want to look at the records of a documented rape case that happened in 1967. I have no idea where to look -- social service agency, courts, police. Can you help?
Answer: Contact the Honolulu Police Department's Records Division.
You should put your request in writing, providing as much detail about the case and the names of the people involved, and send it to Honolulu Police Department, Attention Records, 801 S. Beretania St., Honolulu 96813.
Hawaii Revised Statutes 92F, which covers the Hawaii Uniform Information Practices Act, allows copies of such reports to be released.
However, even if the person making the request was directly involved in a case, a copy of the report would be "redacted" -- personal information about the people involved will be edited out -- explained an official in the Records Division.
"As long as a case is adjudicated or (the person requesting a copy of a report) is not going to pursue (legal) action, they may get a copy of the report," the records official said. "But it will be redacted, even if you're the victim. The law doesn't permit us to release names or personal information on a person to a second party, even though you are the victim or the complainant. The only way you can get it not redacted would be a court order."
She explained this by giving a hypothetical example: a dog bites you and you know it belongs to a neighbor two houses down. But you don't know the neighbor's name. You ask HPD for help.
"I cannot give you the name of your neighbor or the person whose dog bit you," the HPD official said. "Personal information, I have to scratch out."
There are fees for research and copying ($2.50 per 15 minutes and 5 cents per page), although there may be no charge for research involving more current records.
Requests usually should be done in writing because it will take time to locate records more than 3 years old and especially one going back to the '60s. HPD's record files date back to the mid-1930s, when the Sheriff's Office turned it over to police.
"The old records take us time (to locate) because they are not computerized or alphabetized," the records official said.
Auwe
To the young female driver of a Honda who aggressively tried to enter traffic on the H-1 freeway, heading east from the airport viaduct, about 5:20 p.m. Sept. 25. If you had approached with a signal and the attitude that you were willing to wait patiently for an opening, I most likely would have allowed you into my lane. Instead, you placed your car uncomfortably close to mine in a threatening position and when I stopped to let you in, you flipped your middle finger at me. Instead of yielding, you forced me to yield, yet YOU felt affronted? Your attitude will probably reflect upon the young one in your back seat. Woe to that child's generation. Woe to you for thinking it's all right to disrespect a stranger. Woe to the innocent drivers who have to put up with your arrogant and demanding driving. -- Weary Woman
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Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
E-mail to kokualine@starbulletin.com
