Creating a program to speed up domestic violence case handling

(a) Legislative findings and declaration of intent. The council finds that pursuant to an audit report published by the office of the city auditor entitled Audit of How Domestic Violence Cases are Handled, Processed, and Resolved , dated June 2017, Report No. 17-02, the handling, processing, and investigation of domestic violence cases by the office of the prosecuting attorney is inefficient and ineffective due in part to: (1) A statutory classification of domestic abuse in the presence of a family or household member who is less than 14 years old as a felony, resulting in a significant increase in the number of domestic abuse cases; (2) The lack of common definitions, processes, procedures, and reports between the department of the prosecuting attorney and the Honolulu police department that could facilitate data sharing and streamline monitoring and processing of domestic violence cases; and (3) The absence of formal administrative processes, procedures, and policies in the department of the prosecuting attorney governing domestic violence cases and the department's reliance upon informal guidelines in the processing of domestic violence cases. (b) Establishment of a domestic violence program. A domestic violence program is hereby established to effectuate the expeditious and efficient processing and investigation of domestic violence cases.