Program to help homeless with mental health
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii officials have announced a program to help homeless people on Oahu with mental health issues.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced a one-year contract to the Outreach Navigation program between Honolulu and the Institute for Human Services that would allow judges to give homeless people court-ordered mental health treatment.
Officials say recent legislation passed allowing attorneys to enforce treatments without proving that a client is a danger to others, but just themselves.
Officials say the $500,000 program is expected to seek court approval for less than 10 homeless clients, starting at a family court in Kapolei about 20 miles west of Honolulu.
City officials say the program is aimed at the most service-resistant, chronically homeless people who would not otherwise accept help.
Judge considers life sentence in fatal crash
LIHUE, Kauai (AP) — A man faces a possible life sentence after a jury decided he is a public threat who should serve extended prison terms.
The Garden Island reported Tuesday that Kauai jurors concluded 48-year-old Cody Safadago should serve additional time for three convictions.
Hawaii prosecutors have the option to seek extended terms for multiple felony offenders if they prove the defendant presents a public safety threat.
The jury convicted Safadago Friday on eight counts including car theft and drunk driving resulting in a 2017 collision that killed a woman.
Prosecutors seek to increase the maximum penalty for manslaughter from 20 years in jail to life and double the allowable sentences for two lesser felonies.
Safadago’s defense attorney says he does not deserve a life term.
His sentencing was not immediately scheduled.