Your dream vacation turned into a nightmare the moment you saw those flashing lights. Getting arrested was not part of your plan.
Sexual Assault Charges Return Fugitives to Hawaii
Sex crimes damage the lives of victims - and the lives of those accused by law enforcement. Recently two different cases saw fugitives returned to Hawaii to face allegations of sexual assault going back as far as 2008.
Crackdown on Corrections Officers Continues
Since 2012, corrections facilities in Hawaii have come under fire as guards continue to be arrested for smuggling illegal substances and other goods to inmates. In January, another officer at Halawa Correctional Facility was arrested on drug charges.
Kona Man Sentenced for Airline Hoax
At any time, making false claims can be dangerous. For a Kona man, a false claim led to federal prison.
Why Underage Drinking and Driving is a Bigger Problem Than Anyone Realizes
Kids will be kids. But when "kids being kids" get behind the wheel after a night of partying, the old adage goes out the driver's side window. Drivers under 21 are already considered to be inexperienced - adding alcohol to the situation only increases the likelihood of a dangerous situation, injuries, death, and at the very least, an arrest on a criminal record.
Rehabilitation for Youthful Offenders
Making mistakes is a part of childhood and youth. However, having a permanent record at a young age can create problems in the future. Your record follows you as you seek employment and apply for different licenses. But the mistakes of your past don't have to affect your future. We encourage youthful offenders to take the charges against them seriously and to learn from their mistakes. Our goal is for the young to take control of the future by putting forth a solid defense to charges against them early in life.
Standing Your Ground: Legal Under Certain Conditions in Hawaii
In the wake of the George Zimmerman not guilty verdict for shooting Trayvon Martin, Stand Your Ground laws have become - and continue to be - a familiar topic for most Americans. These laws address the issue of what rights you have to defend yourself when you are threatened with serious bodily injury or death.
The Proper Way to Assert Miranda Rights Upon Arrest
Anyone who watches crime dramas on TV or in the movies is very aware of the Miranda rights police read to suspects upon arrest. However, relatively few people know about the 2010 changes in the law that can cause the loss of those rights. You need to learn how to take proper advantage of your Miranda rights before a lawyer arrives to defend you.
Filing an Appeal Can Potentially Secure Temporary Release for Convicted Offenders in Hawaii
For many convicted offenders, a guilty verdict does not necessarily mean they must serve jail time or pay other penalties. While they cannot take their cases back to court simply because they disagree with the verdict, they can appeal their cases if their attorneys can cite errors within the trial that may have led to an invalid decision. In Hawaii, an experienced criminal appeals lawyer may be able to convince the courts to release certain convicted people until they hear the appeals case and make a final decision.
Mitigating Circumstances Can Reduce Murder Charges to Manslaughter Under Hawaii Law
In Hawaii, conviction for murder can potentially carry a sentence ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in the case of particularly heinous, cruel acts. While manslaughter is still a serious Class A felony offense, persons convicted of manslaughter typically receive lesser sentences than those convicted of murder. The prosecutor often has significant discretion when deciding how to charge a defendant. An important role of a criminal defense attorney is to negotiate lesser charges whenever possible.
