HONOLULU (KHON2) — If a new bill to establish the offense of habitual violent misdemeanor crime becomes a law, offenders will get three strikes before it becomes a felony.
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Three convictions of a violent misdemeanor within five years will become a Class C felony if the bill goes into effect.
State Sen. Sharon Moriwaki said Hawaii already has habitual crime laws when it comes to property misdemeanors — three convictions within five years means prosecutors can charge someone with a Class C felony — but the State does not have the same law for personal misdemeanors like third-degree assault.
“This bill is to have that habitual offender language into assaults,” Sen. Moriwaki said, “that’s where the problem is and so a lot of our community are being assaulted and nothing can be done.”
Second-degree assault of a law enforcement officer and fourth-degree sexual assault are also included in the bill. The Community Alliance on Prisons said the proposal is more of a feel good bill.