About the Department
The duty of the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney is to seek justice on behalf of crime victims in the City and County of Honolulu. The department is comprised of deputy prosecutors, support staff, including paralegals, victim-witness advocates, investigators and clerical personnel.
Power, Duties, and Functions
The office represents the people and the state of Hawai‘i in criminal proceedings before District Court, Family Court and Circuit Court in Honolulu; presents cases to the O‘ahu Grand Jury; and handles appeals and other matters heard by the Hawai‘i Intermediate Court of Appeals and the Hawai‘i Supreme Court.
Weed and Seed
Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm is revitalizing the Weed and Seed strategy in the original Weed and Seed sites: Chinatown/Kalihi-Palama, Waipahu, and Ewa/Ewa Beach/Kalaeloa. This strategy involves the close cooperation of the Honolulu Police Department and the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office to reduce crime in these areas, while at the same time fostering community and social programs to help area residents and businesses thrive
Legislative Priorities
The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office is focused on modernizing the Hawaii Penal Code to better hold offenders accountable for their crimes. In 2022, the office drafted and support Act 2, which overturned the Hawaii Supreme Court’s ruling in State v. Thompson. The Thompson ruling effectively prevented prosecutor’s offices around the state from filing criminal complaints for misdemeanor cases. This office was instrumental in getting Act 2 enacted, which resumed misdemeanor prosecutions statewide.
