← Back to search

HRS §571-72

Police duties for juvenile cases and clearing arrest records

This section tells police to focus on stopping and investigating crimes by kids under 18. Police can take a minor for questioning if the minor fits certain rules, then either counsel and release them or send them to court or an agency. Police must also erase a minor's arrest record when the family court orders it.

courts

The statute, as written — Duties and powers; reports; expungement of juvenile arrest records

(a) The juvenile division or section shall direct its attention specifically to the suppression, prevention, and investigation of crimes committed by children under the age of eighteen years, and any police officer shall have the power and authority to take and detain any minor coming under section 571-11 at the division or section or other suitable places for questioning and investigation. If it appears upon conclusion of the investigation that the minor does come within such provisions, the minor may be counseled and released, and follow-up counseling provided or the minor may be referred to the family court or to a proper agency for treatment, and a written report of the findings of the officer shall be submitted to the court or agency. (b) Upon receipt of an expungement order issued by the family court under section 571-88, the police shall expunge the arrest record of the minor.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§571-11 Family court authority over children

§571-88 Clearing a juvenile's arrest record

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.