Expansion of
Drug Courts urgedThe push by Aiona comes
in testimony on measures
relating to the "ice" epidemic
Expanding the successful Drug Court program would be the best way to give first-time drug offenders a chance to get treatment instead of jail time, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona told a joint legislative committee yesterday.
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"Drug Courts provide alternatives to incarceration while retaining the ability to impose criminal penalties when necessary," Aiona said in testimony before the Senate committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Health and the House Judiciary Committee.
Aiona, a former judge in charge of the Drug Courts, called them a proven tool, compared to the proposals in companion bills House Bill 2003 and Senate Bill 3233, the far-reaching drug policy bills that emerged from last year's Joint House-Senate Task Force on Ice and Drug Abatement.
Aiona also asked that his office be allowed to coordinate among state departments regarding drug initiatives, instead of moving those duties to the Department of Labor, as proposed in the bills.
In other comments on the bills:
>> The state Public Defender's Office questioned whether it would work to create a harsher punishment for "ice" manufacturing where children are present, because "it is a significant departure from the structure of the Hawaii Penal Code.">> Ronald Hajime, an administrator with the 1st Judicial Circuit, asked that the bill give judges discretion over whether it's appropriate for first-time drug offenders be sent to treatment instead of prison.
>> Schools Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto agreed that screening and help for students with drug problems should be provided at all schools, but noted money would be needed.
>> Insurance Commissioner J. P. Schmidt cautioned that the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs would like a section of the bill about health insurance "parity" for ice users to be reviewed by the legislative auditor.
>> Maui County Police and Honolulu Police departments opposed the bills, suggesting instead the committees support House Bill 2369 and Senate Bill 2844, introduced by the Law Enforcement Coalition. A key concern was mandatory drug treatment instead of prison time for first-time drug offenders, without regard to other criminal history.
>> Richard Miller, former dean of the University of Hawaii Law School, said he "strongly agreed" that treatment of ice addiction as a public health issue was the way to go.
>> State Sen. Sam Slom, testifying as president of Small Business Hawaii, warned that the bills unfairly burden business owners with the cost of employee drug treatment.
>> Dancetta Feary urged funding of rehabilitation homes for recovering drug addicts, because "if there's no place to go, they will end up back in our hospitals and prisons."
