Representatives from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Public Safety, Office of the Public Defender, O`ahu, Maui, and Kaua`i Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Honolulu, Maui, Hawai`i, and Kaua`i Police Departments, and the Hawai`i Paroling Authority, met today with representatives from the Judiciary and Hawai`i Information Consortium (HIC) – the state’s internet portal manager – to discuss a preliminary proposal to make outstanding traffic warrants electronically available to law enforcement agencies.

The participants were members of the Task Force on Outstanding Bench Warrants established by the Legislature in 2006. In its final report to the Legislature, the Task Force noted that an electronic warrants system would enhance the service of warrants and affected agencies should be involved in the design and implementation of such a system.

“We recognize interagency cooperation is necessary for the success of this project and welcome input and participation from all involved,” said Thomas R. Keller, Administrative Director of the Courts. “We hope that by working together to enhance the delivery and service of these warrants, we can enhance public safety and make clear that there are consequences when people ignore their responsibility to the justice system.”

The Judiciary has been working with HIC to explore the possibility of making traffic warrants available to law enforcement in near real time utilizing the capabilities of the Judiciary Information Management System (JIMS).

The Judiciary has reduced the time it takes to produce a traffic warrant to less than two weeks from the time the warrant is ordered.

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Contact: Marsha E. Kitagawa, 539-4909