NCJ Number
70994
Date Published
1980
Length
197 pages
Annotation
This monograph presents the broad outlines and principles of the Hawaii criminal justice system in nontechnical language understandable by nonlawyers.
Abstract
The volume is intended for use as a textbook in college courses in political science, criminology, police science, and sociology. After a brief introdution, a chapter discusses Hawaii's trial and appellate court systems, court personnel, the prosecutor, and the defense attorney. The next chapter is devoted to key concepts which include constitutional rights, probable cause, presumption of innocence, and reasonable doubt. Additional concepts presented include evidence, evidentiary rules, elements of a crime, and mental capacity and responsibility. A subsequent chapter considers major pre-trial procedures for both felony and misdemeanor cases. The police investigation, the initial court appearance, the preliminary hearing and grand jury, arraignment and plea, bail, plea bargaining, and pre-trial motions are described. Another chapter discusses trial by jury. It includes sections on voir dire, the opening statement, the introduction of evidence by the prosecutor, the defense's motion for judgment of acquittal, and the introduction of evidence by the defense. Further sections describe the prosecutor's rebuttal, the settlement of jury instructions, the final argument, the reading of instructions, jury deliberations and the verdict, and sentencing. Two concluding chapters are devoted to non-jury trials and the courts of appeal. Appendixes contain footnotes, a case history, examples of forms and documents used in criminal proceedings, and a list of definitions. Charts and drawings illustrate various concepts. Footnotes are also included.