Report Title:

Requests the Governor to create criteria for granting pardons

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, sometimes there are compelling reasons to excuse convicted criminals from the sentences handed down by the court for their crimes; and

WHEREAS, under Article V, Section 5, of the Hawaii State Constitution, the Governor has the authority to grant pardons after conviction for all offenses, subject to regulation by law as to the manner of applying for a pardon; and

WHEREAS, there is no state law or executive order establishing criteria to be followed by the Governor in determining whether and when to grant a convicted criminal a pardon; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that if such criteria were established there would be more uniformity and consistency in the granting of pardons, and the process would be less subject to discretionary abuse; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Governor is requested to establish criteria to be followed for the granting of pardons; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to submit the criteria to the Legislature prior to the 2002 Regular Session; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor of the State of Hawaii.