Prosecutor’s Office offers victim
services reminder
In recognition of National Crime Victim’s Week, Prosecuting Attorney Charlene Iboshi issued a reminder Tuesday about the office’s victim and witness program.
The program “was created to help crime victims and provide information about the judicial process, referrals to community agencies, crisis and short-term counseling, assistance with crime victim compensation, property return assistance and court accompaniment,” a press release from the office said.
The program served 3,827 victims in 2011, 1,187 witnesses, 244 secondary victims and 330 other people. Crimes reported to the Hawaii Police Department that year included 220 sexual assaults, 1,330 assaults, 4,037 thefts, 53 robberies, 919 burglaries and many other crimes. The county recorded 23 traffic deaths, with four related to drugs, five related to alcohol and six relating to a combination of both.Other vehicle-related cases included 1,435 driving under the influence of intoxicant arrests and 1,400 major accidents.
Child Welfare Services last year accepted 250 new child abuse and neglect cases, and referred 422 less severe cases to other agencies for services. The YWCA Sexual Assault Support Service received 510 calls for assistance and provided therapy to 278 clients. The Child and Family Service’s Alternatives to Violence Program helped 1,298 domestic violence victims with temporary restraining orders and 238 adults with emergency shelter services.
The Prosecutor’s Office’s recently formed Elder Abuse Unit identified 54 cases of crimes that victimized the elderly.
The U.S. Department of Justice set the theme “Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim” for National Crime Victim’s Week this week.
“Our commitment to ‘extend the vision’ and ‘reach every victim’ will overcome the many challenges that confront us now,” Iboshi said. “The vision, determination and passion for justice that inspired our history will help us transform the future for every victim of crime.”
Prescription drug disposal Saturday
Hawaii Island residents may turn in unused prescription medicines at two locations Saturday as part of the “Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative.”
People may anonymously turn in all unused, unneeded and expired prescription medications to have the medications properly disposed of. In West Hawaii, people may bring the medications to the Kealakehe Police Station parking lot between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Keiki summer program information sought
West Hawaii Today is compiling a list of summer activities and camps for keiki in West Hawaii.
The deadline for submissions is May 2. Submissions should be kept as brief as possible. The newspaper will edit as needed.
Information can be emailed to keaton@westhawaiitoday.com. For more information, call Kim Eaton at 930-8619.
By local sources
correction
Roadshow ends
Sunday in Kona
The International Collectibles Roadshow is being held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Royal Kona Resort through Sunday. An article in Tuesday’s edition ran the incorrect end date of the event in Kona.
It is the police of West Hawaii Today to correct promptly any incorrect or misleading information when it is brought to the attention of the newspaper.