Community Outreach Court a Path to Sustainability

By McKenna Woodward, OHA Public Policy Advocate

Since its inception in 2017, Hawaiʻi’s Community Outreach Court (COC) has served as a bridge between the criminal justice system and meaningful reentry for some of our most vulnerable community members.

With the recent signing of HB280 by Gov. Josh Green, this innovative court is now a permanent fixture in our state’s judicial system, and a significant victory for those working to address the systemic criminalization of poverty and houselessness.

The COC is designed to help non-violent offenders, many of whom also experience houselessness, resolve outstanding legal issues in a more accessible, community-centered way. The court holds proceedings at community locations where individuals can clear active charges, lift license stoppers, and recall bench warrants, often in exchange for community service rather than fines.

This approach helps participants avoid incarceration and places them in a better position to secure essential resources such as housing, employment, and income assistance.

To date, the COC has assisted over 600 participants, cleared nearly 11,000 cases, lifted more than 7,000 license stoppers, and recalled over 900 bench warrants.

These outcomes are critical as Native Hawaiians are disproportionately represented in the state’s criminal justice system and among the unhoused population. Native Hawaiians account for 37% of the state’s correctional population and 28% of its houseless population, despite comprising only 21% of the total state population. Programs like the COC aim to address these disparities by offering participants a path forward grounded in dignity and support.

By institutionalizing the COC, HB280 sends a clear message: Hawaiʻi values rehabilitation over punishment and is committed to helping those in crisis reenter society with support and compassion.

The governor also signed HB727 into law, permanently establishing the Mōhala Wāhine Program in the First Circuit. This is a gender-responsive specialty court focused on the unique needs of system-involved women. Its codification alongside the COC reflects a growing commitment to trauma-informed, culturally appropriate justice alternatives.