Failures tarnish Hawaii program to rehabilitate offenders

[dkf]

The Hawaii Judiciary's Project HOPE has won national praise for successfully controlling new criminal behavior by probationers, but there have been several tragic failures since the program began.
Advertisement

Most recently, probationer Aaron Susa was charged with murdering New Mexico tourist Bryanna Antone Oct. 2, less than a day after he completed his latest stay in prison for violating the rules of Project HOPE.

Another HOPE probationer, Corbit K. Ahn, is awaiting trial on charges that he murdered teenager Iris Rodrigues-Kaikana Aug. 24 and left her nude body in a dirt alley in Kalihi.

Hawaii's Opportunity for Probation with Enforcement is aimed at reducing criminal behavior by close supervision of probationers and promises of immediate arrest and incarceration for program violations.

But the recent murders of two young women allegedly committed by HOPE probationers has focused new attention on the HOPE program.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20091108/NEWS01/911080379/Failures+tarnish+Hawaii+program+to+rehabilitate+offenders

[snagglepuss]

1. .