07-03-2017, 04:42 PM
Good that some folks keep a sense of humor regarding Hawaii's lackadaisical law enforcement agencies. It is a demoralizing situation, especially for crime victims. But all you can do is take it in stride. Change is unlikely.
Have observed law enforcement failures for decades. Several notable patterns:
1) Per regular good reporting of the Star-Advertiser (and former Honolulu Advertiser), numerous reports of arrests over the years where the perp is found to have amassed 60, 80, 100-plus prior arrests, or 25-30 convictions (or similar figures). How many other crimes did they perpetrate without being caught?
These cases are not alcoholics with repeated liquor violations or people stealing candy bars. They were mostly car break-ins and burglaries and some violent crimes. Compared to other states, Hawaii can be crediting with having a low violent crime rate. But we also have a very high property crime rate. Hawaii--a thieves' paradise. (Apparently the former contributes to the aforementioned lackadaisical attitude.)
2) Individuals arrested for assault, e.g., attacking tourists on a bus or at a beach park, and then the police release the offenders "pending investigation" or set bail at some ridiculously low figure like $1000-$3000.
One can contrast Hawaii's leniency on crime with the draconian three strikes laws of some states. Two violent crime convictions followed by a third conviction for a property crime can bring a 25-year jail term. Hawaii and these states are polar opposites. Neither serves the concept of justice well.
(Some three-strikes states like California have significantly reduced the severity of these statutes. Good for you, California. For Hawaii, it's business as usual: coddling thieves.)
One has to wonder if there is any connection between Hawaii law enforcement's strong stance against loosening our state's firearm laws and its poor policing. The type of chronic theft that is goes unpunished in Hawaii is not tolerated in many states, especially Western states with liberal guns laws. Here, if law enforcement doesn't do its job properly, the rate of criminals getting shot rises rapidly. (Good riddance.)
(My record in 43 years in Hawaii: suffered 3 burglaries, car broken into 5 times. Narrowly avoided being assaulted twice.)
Have observed law enforcement failures for decades. Several notable patterns:
1) Per regular good reporting of the Star-Advertiser (and former Honolulu Advertiser), numerous reports of arrests over the years where the perp is found to have amassed 60, 80, 100-plus prior arrests, or 25-30 convictions (or similar figures). How many other crimes did they perpetrate without being caught?
These cases are not alcoholics with repeated liquor violations or people stealing candy bars. They were mostly car break-ins and burglaries and some violent crimes. Compared to other states, Hawaii can be crediting with having a low violent crime rate. But we also have a very high property crime rate. Hawaii--a thieves' paradise. (Apparently the former contributes to the aforementioned lackadaisical attitude.)
2) Individuals arrested for assault, e.g., attacking tourists on a bus or at a beach park, and then the police release the offenders "pending investigation" or set bail at some ridiculously low figure like $1000-$3000.
One can contrast Hawaii's leniency on crime with the draconian three strikes laws of some states. Two violent crime convictions followed by a third conviction for a property crime can bring a 25-year jail term. Hawaii and these states are polar opposites. Neither serves the concept of justice well.
(Some three-strikes states like California have significantly reduced the severity of these statutes. Good for you, California. For Hawaii, it's business as usual: coddling thieves.)
One has to wonder if there is any connection between Hawaii law enforcement's strong stance against loosening our state's firearm laws and its poor policing. The type of chronic theft that is goes unpunished in Hawaii is not tolerated in many states, especially Western states with liberal guns laws. Here, if law enforcement doesn't do its job properly, the rate of criminals getting shot rises rapidly. (Good riddance.)
(My record in 43 years in Hawaii: suffered 3 burglaries, car broken into 5 times. Narrowly avoided being assaulted twice.)