CHAPTER 712A

FORFEITURE

Section

    712A-1 Definitions

    712A-2 Jurisdiction

    712A-3 Venue

    712A-4 Covered offenses

    712A-5 Property subject to forfeiture; exemption

  712A-5.5 Excessive forfeitures

    712A-6 Seizure of property

    712A-7 Powers and duties of law enforcement officers and

           agencies

    712A-8 Notice of forfeiture proceedings

    712A-9 Commencement of proceedings

   712A-10 Administrative forfeiture

   712A-11 Judicial forfeiture proceedings; general

   712A-12 Judicial in rem forfeiture proceedings

   712A-13 Judicial in personam forfeiture proceedings

   712A-14 Supplemental remedies

   712A-15 Disposition of claims by court

   712A-16 Disposition of property forfeited

   712A-17 Limitation of actions

   712A-18 Victim restitution

   712A-19 Construction

   712A-20 Short title

Note

  L 2001, c 91, §4 purports to amend this chapter.

COMMENTARY ON CHAPTER 712A

  Act 104, Session Laws 1996, repealed the sunset provision of the Hawaii omnibus criminal forfeiture act to make the law permanent.  The legislature found that forfeitures served a public purpose of removing assets that facilitated or were derived from illegal activity, and that the forfeited assets or their proceeds were being used for, inter alia, administering the forfeiture program and training and educating law enforcement personnel.  The legislature also found that forfeitures served as an "immediate deterrent" against future illegal activity involving the forfeited assets or precluded further enjoyment of the forfeited assets.  The legislature believed that the criminal forfeiture law was being appropriately applied to aid in the war against drugs.  Senate Standing Committee Report No. 2731, House Standing Committee Report No. 409-96.

Case Notes

  Hawaii legislature intended administrative forfeitures and judicial in rem forfeiture proceedings under this chapter to be civil proceedings.  83 H. 141, 925 P.2d 311 (1996).