State of Hawaii Department of the Attorney General

State of Hawaii, Department of the Attorney General
	Seal of Hawaii
Agency overview
Jurisdiction	State of Hawaii
Headquarters	425 Queen Street, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Agency executive	Anne E. Lopez, Attorney General of Hawaii ;
Website	ag.hawaii.gov

Last updated January 06, 2024

The Attorney General of Hawaii, the chief legal officer and chief law enforcement officer of Hawaii, is responsible for the Department of the Attorney General which is charged with advising the various other departments and agencies of the state government and for the prosecution of offenses under state law.

Divisions

The Department of the Attorney General is divided into multiple divisions:^[1]

Legal services

Administration Division — principally responsible for commercial and financial-related legal issues.
Appellate Division — oversight authority over all state and federal appeals in the department. The division also serves as the primary contact point with other states for filing amicus briefs in the United States Supreme Court and other courts in pending non-Hawaii cases that may affect Hawaii.
Civil Recoveries Division — pursues monies owed to the State.
Civil Rights Litigation Division — provides legal defense to the State, its departments and agencies, and certain state employees in lawsuits or other claims that involve allegations of constitutional or civil rights violations.
Commerce and Economic Development Division — provides legal services and litigation support to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and the Department of Agriculture.
Criminal Justice Division — performs prosecutorial functions on behalf of the State in areas such as welfare fraud, tax fraud, unemployment fraud, unauthorized practice of law, public corruption, internet crimes against children, high technology crimes, Medicaid fraud and elder abuse, violations of state tobacco laws, drug nuisance, environmental crimes, cold homicide cases, and conflict cases from the four county prosecutors’ office.
Education Division — principally provides legal advice and support to the Department of Education and the Board of Education.
Employment Law Division — provides legal representation and advice to the Department of Human Resources Development and to all state departments and agencies on employment-related issues.
Family Law Division — handles all state litigation under the jurisdiction of Family Court, such as child and adult protection, guardianships, truancy, adolescent mental health cases, and involuntary civil mental commitment hearings.
Health and Human Services Division — provides the principal legal services and support to the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services and also enforces the State’s environmental laws.
Labor Division — provides legal services and litigation support to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and boards and agencies administratively attached to that department.
Land/Transportation Division — provides legal services to both the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation.
Legislative Division — provides legal services on matters pertaining to legislation and to proposed administrative rules.
Public Safety, Hawaiian Home Lands, and Housing Division — provides legal services and support to the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, and the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.
Tax & Charities Division — provides legal representation and advice to the Department of Taxation and other state departments and agencies, primarily in the areas of tax litigation, legislation, rules, investigations, and opinions and advice.
Tort Litigation Division — provides legal defense to personal injury lawsuits and claims made against the State and its departments and agencies.

Public services

Child Support Enforcement Agency — provides assistance to children by locating parents, establishing paternity and support obligations (both financial and medical), and enforcing those obligations.
Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division — coordinates statewide programs, activities, research, and grants for the improvement of the criminal justice system, crime victim services, and community crime prevention efforts.
Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center — responsible for the statewide criminal history record information system, the statewide Automated Fingerprint Identification System, the statewide SexOffender and Other Covered Offender Registry, and the Adult Criminal Conviction Information Web Site.
Office of Child Support Hearings — provides a fair and impartial administrative forum for the expeditious resolution of child support disputes.

Other

Administrative Services Division — provides professional, effective and efficient support services for all employees, colleagues and clients of the department.
Investigations Division — conducts investigations in support of the department’s civil, criminal, and administrative cases.
Special Investigation and Prosecution Division — combats human trafficking, corruption, fraud and economic crimes in Hawaii.

Investigations

Investigations Division

The Investigations Division conducts investigations in support of the department’s civil, criminal, and administrative cases. These investigations involve such areas as homeland security; tactical intelligence operations; organized crime; internet crimes against children; high technology computer crimes; drug nuisance abatement; environmental crimes; tobacco tax enforcement; airport, harbors, and highways; cold homicide cases; and other criminal and civil matters.^[1]

As of June 30, 2023, the Investigations Division had the following structure:^[2]

Chief Special Investigator
- Secretary III — Clerical Services Section
  - Two (2) Office Assistant IV's
- Investigator VI — Tobacco Tax Section
  - Five (5) Investigator V's
- Investigator VI — Investigative Services Section
  - Thirty six (36) Investigator V's

On January 1, 2024, certain "law enforcement personnel of the Investigations Division of the Department of the Attorney General" were transferred to the new Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement pursuant to Hawaii Bill HB2171 and SB1337.^[3]^[4] Per SB1337, one Chief Investigator, nineteen (19) Investigators, and one administrative secretary were transferred from the Investigations Division to the Department of Law Enforcement.^[4]

Other criminal investigations units

Department of the Attorney General

In addition to the Investigations Division, several other divisions of the Department of the Attorney General also house independent investigative functions.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, operating under the Criminal Justice Division, is a federally and state funded unit that is charged with conducting criminal and civil investigations and prosecutions of provider fraud against the Medicaid Program, fraud in the administration of the Medicaid Program, and abuse and neglect of Medicaid beneficiaries and residents of board and care facilities.^[5] The Investigations Unit of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is headed by an Investigator VI and it is staffed by six (6) Investigator V's.^[2]

The Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, operating under the Criminal Justice Division, is focused on the prevention, interdiction, investigation and prosecution of individuals who use the internet to exploit children. The unit also seek to combat crimes against children through the internet by the vigorous investigation and prosecution of offenders. The Hawaii Internet Crimes Against Children Unit is part of a nationwide group of 61 regional task forces spread throughout the United States and funded by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.^[6] The unit is headed by an Investigator VI, and it is staffed by five (5) Investigator V's, one (1) Information Technology Specialist V, and one (1) Office Assistant IV.^[2]

The Investigation and Analysis Unit, operating under the Special Investigation and Prosecution Division, combats human trafficking, corruption, fraud and economic crimes in Hawaii.^[2] The unit is headed by a Lead Forensic Analyst and it is staffed by two (2) Forensic Analysts and seven (7) Investigator V's.^[2]

In addition to the larger investigative functions outlined above, the Department of the Attorney General has investigators working in various smaller functions as well which include:

Child Support Enforcement Agency: two (2) Investigator IV's, seven (7) Investigator III's.^[2]
Tax & Charities Division: one (1) Investigator V.^[2]

County Prosecutor's Office, Criminal Investigation Units

The County Prosecutor's Office, Criminal Investigation Units (Hawaii County, Kauai County, Honolulu City and County, and Maui County) come under the authority and are subordinate to the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General and work closely with and perform investigations for the Attorney General. County Prosecutor Investigators also have the powers and privileges of police officers with state wide jurisdiction to effect arrest and conduct investigations.

Hawaii Prosecuting Attorney Office, Criminal Investigations Unit - Hawai‘i
Kauai Prosecuting Attorney Office, Criminal Investigations Unit - Kaua‘i, Ni‘ihau
Maui Prosecuting Attorney Office, Investigative Services Division - Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘ī
City and County of Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Office, Criminal Investigations Unit - Oahu

Rank structure

Investigators have the powers and privileges of police officers with statewide jurisdiction to effect arrest and conduct investigations.^[7] Most investigators are experienced law enforcement officer with other federal, state or local police agencies prior to being employed with the division. Investigators conduct investigations of the most complex, confidential, and diverse civil/criminal cases being considered and/or readied for court action and prosecution; obtains additional information, evidence, and facts to clarify or substantiate findings of law enforcement agencies; secures, interviews, and interrogates witnesses complainants, and suspects; conducts highly confidential investigations.

Chief Special Investigator, EM-07: responsible for planning, administering, organizing, and directing the statewide investigations program. As chief of the Investigations Division of the Department of the Attorney General, the sole position in this class is responsible for developing program plans to achieve program goals and objectives; developing operational policies and procedures; developing and implementing the program's budget; recommending new laws, rules and regulations; testifying before the Legislature; and establishing and maintaining extensive public contacts with representatives of other international, State, federal, and county agencies to share information and collaborate on law enforcement projects and activities.^[8]
Investigator VI, SR-26 (Chief Investigator): plans, organizes, directs and coordinates a statewide investigative program, and performs other related duties as assigned. At this level, positions develop operating policies and procedures; resolve operational problems; recommend new laws, rules and regulations or recommend revisions; testify before the legislature; prepare budget requests and develop training programs. Work activities and requirements are broad and complex although violations investigated are related to specific program areas, such as, welfare fraud, controlled substances, regulated industries, consumer protection, etc. Investigators at the VI level may occasionally work on the most complex investigations, which involve highly controversial issues and extremely complex problems.^[9]
Investigator V, SR-24: plans, organizes, directs and coordinates the activities of an investigative agency concerned with civil, administrative and/or criminal investigations falling within its respective jurisdiction, and performs other related duties as assigned.^[9]
- Type A (Major): a full supervisor who has complete technical and administrative responsibility for an agency's investigative program (e.g. welfare fraud) and has supervisory responsibility over a staff of investigators, where at least one member of the staff is of the Investigator IV level, type A or C.
- Type B (Captain): an investigator who conducts civil, administrative and criminal investigations falling within a variety of jurisdictions, such as, the Executive, Legislative or Judicial Branches, State departments or agencies, county and federal governments and regulatory boards and commissions, where violations or circumstances investigated are related to a broad variety of program areas and covering a very broad range of laws, rules and regulations.
Investigator IV, SR-22 (Lieutenant): performs and/or supervises investigations involving suspected or actual violations of civil, administrative and/or criminal laws, rules, regulations or other legal requirements within an agency's jurisdiction; determines case approach and gathers supporting evidence or information; and performs other related duties as assigned.^[9]
- Type A: an investigator independently performing the full range of investigations within an agency's jurisdiction where the work regularly is of a complex nature, but is limited to investigating violations that are related to a specific program area, such as, welfare fraud, controlled substances, regulated industries, consumer protection, etc.
- Type B: one or two investigators who are responsible for the small investigative program in an agency, without higher level investigative supervisory guidance. These investigators are responsible for the day-to-day operations of their respective investigative program areas, including the promotion of public understanding and cooperation; recommendation of changes to laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures; conduct of education and training activities; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with law enforcement and other agencies, as well as, maintaining records, preparing reports and performing other administrative duties.
- Type C: the working supervisory investigator in an agency where investigations are carried out according to standard policies and procedures, from planning through fact-finding to reporting the results of investigations.
Investigator III, SR-20 (Sergeant): conducts investigations pertaining to an agency's investigative program; prevents and/or detects violations of laws, rules and regulations within an agency's jurisdiction; investigates complaints filed by the public or others; develops and secures information or evidence; prepares reports; and performs other related duties as assigned.^[9]
Investigator II, SR-18 (Officer II): performs a limited range of investigative activities in the prevention and detection of violations of laws, rules and regulations falling within an agency's jurisdiction; gathers information; prepares reports; and performs other related duties as assigned.^[9]
Investigator I, SR-16 (Officer): receives orientation and training in the investigative field; learns basic investigative techniques and procedures, as well as laws, rules and regulations pertaining to an agency's jurisdiction; receives simple and routine assignments; and performs other related duties as assigned. As the entry trainee level in the series, positions in this class receive formal and on-the-job training in investigative methods, techniques, procedures and laws, rules and regulations pertinent to an agency's jurisdiction. Initially, the investigator is primarily an observer in working with higher level investigators, but as experience is gained, selected investigative duties are assigned.^[9]

Related Research Articles

In the United States, a district attorney (DA), county attorney, county prosecutor, state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, state attorney or solicitor is the chief prosecutor or chief law enforcement officer representing a U.S. state in a local government area, typically a county or a group of counties. The exact and scope of the office varies by state. Generally, the prosecutor represents the people of the jurisdiction. With the exception of three states, district attorneys are elected, unlike similar roles in other common law jurisdictions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Department of Public Safety</span> Department of the Texas state government

The Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas, commonly known as the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), is a department of the state government of Texas. The DPS is responsible for statewide law enforcement and driver license administration. The Public Safety Commission oversees the DPS. However, under state law, the Governor of Texas may assume command of the department during a public disaster, riot, insurrection, formation of a dangerous resistance to enforcement of law, or to perform his constitutional duty to enforce law. The commission's five members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate, to serve without pay for staggered, six-year terms. The commission formulates plans and policies for enforcing criminal, traffic and safety laws, preventing and detecting crime, apprehending law violators, and educating citizens about laws and public safety.

The New Hampshire Department of Justice (NHDOJ) is a government agency of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The department is led by the Attorney General of New Hampshire, currently John Formella. NHDOJ headquarters are located at 33 Capitol Street in Concord.

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) regulates insurers and other companies that conduct insurance business in Texas, and assists Texas-based insurance consumers. TDI was founded in 1876 as the Department of Insurance, Statistics and History.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) is a major state law enforcement agency of the government of Oklahoma. A division of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, the OHP has traffic enforcement jurisdiction throughout the state. OHP was legislatively created on July 1, 1937, due to the growing problem of motor vehicle collisions, the expansion of highway systems, and the increase in criminal activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Department of Public Safety</span>

The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (ODPS) is a department of the government of Oklahoma. Under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Public Safety, DPS provides for the safety of Oklahomans and the administration of justice in the state. DPS is responsible for statewide law enforcement, vehicle regulation, homeland security and such other duties as the Governor of Oklahoma may proscribe.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is an independent state law enforcement agency of the government of Oklahoma. The OSBI assists the county sheriff offices and city police departments of the state, and is the primary investigative agency of the state government. OSBI works independent of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety to investigate criminal law violations within the state at the request of statutory authorized requesters. The OSBI was created in 1925 during the term of Governor Martin E. Trapp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delaware Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement</span>

The Delaware Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement (DATE) is a law enforcement agency of the State of Delaware and is a division of the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS).

The Wisconsin Department of Justice is a state law enforcement agency with jurisdiction throughout the state of Wisconsin. Its headquarters are in Madison, the state capital, with main offices in the Risser Justice Center in downtown Madison. The Attorney General of Wisconsin oversees the agency. The attorney general is Josh Kaul, who was elected to his first four-year term in November, 2018, and assumed the office on January 7, 2019. The WDoJ manages the state's three crime labs, and investigates major crimes involving, among other things, illegal drugs, fugitives, public corruption, official misconduct, organized crime, domestic terrorism, Medicaid fraud and patient abuse.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is a state-level law enforcement agency in North Carolina.

In the United States, a sheriff is the chief of law enforcement of a county. Sheriffs are usually either elected by the populace or appointed by an elected body.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is a state-wide investigative law enforcement agency within the state of Florida. The department formally coordinates eight boards, councils, and commissions. FDLE's duties, responsibilities, and procedures are mandated through Chapter 943, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 11, Florida Administrative Code. FDLE is headed by a commissioner who reports to the Florida Cabinet, which is composed of the governor, the attorney general, the chief financial officer, and the commissioner of agriculture. The commissioner is appointed to his position by the governor and cabinet and confirmed by the Florida Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Department of Justice</span> Statewide investigative law enforcement agency

The California Department of Justice is a statewide investigative law enforcement agency and legal department of the California executive branch under the elected leadership of the California Attorney General (AG) which carries out complex criminal and civil investigations, prosecutions, and other legal services throughout the US state of California. The department is equivalent to the State Bureau of Investigation in other states.

The Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) is the law enforcement arm of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is made up of attorneys, special agents, scientists and other employees.

In the United States, the state police is a police body unique to each U.S. state, having statewide authority to conduct law enforcement activities and criminal investigations. In general, state police officers or highway patrol officers, known as state troopers, perform functions that do not fall within the jurisdiction of the county sheriff, such as enforcing traffic laws on state highways and interstate expressways, overseeing the security of the state capitol complex, protecting the governor, training new officers for local police forces too small to operate an academy and providing technological and scientific services. They support local police and help to coordinate multi-jurisdictional task force activity in serious or complicated cases in those states that grant full police powers statewide.

The United States Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division is a federal law enforcement agency that investigates crimes against people and property within the United States Marine Corps.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is an agency of the Oklahoma state government that is headed by the Attorney General of Oklahoma. The OAG is responsible for supervising the administration of justice across the State, providing legal assistance to the State government, and prosecuting violators of State law.

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (NMDPS) is department within the New Mexico Governor's Cabinet. NMDPS is responsible for statewide law enforcement services, training, disaster and emergency response. NMDPS also provides technical communications and forensics support to the public and other law enforcement agencies. NMDPS has the duty to provide for the protection and security of the governor and lieutenant governor.

The County of Hawaii, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Criminal Investigations Unit is the law enforcement agency for the County of Hawaii, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. It is tasked with full state police powers to: enforces all State laws and Department rules; conduct investigations of the most complex, confidential and diverse civil/criminal cases being considered and/or readied for court action and prosecution; obtains additional information, evidence, and facts to clarify or substantiate findings of law enforcement agencies; secures, interviews, and interrogates witnesses complainants, and suspects; conducts highly confidential investigations for the Attorney General's Office; special career criminal suppression investigations; arrest subjects, processes and serves legal papers; conduct warrant investigations and extraditions; coordinates investigations and works closely with the Hawai‘i Police Department, military, and federal law enforcement agencies, and all levels of the court system.

The Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement (DLE) is a department within the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The Department of Law Enforcement's goal is "to preserve the public peace, prevent crime, and protect the rights of persons and property at its highest level of law enforcement service for the public, state employees and state properties."

References

1 2 "Hawaii AG Divisions". ag.hawaii.gov. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Attorney General Organizational Charts (June 30, 2023)" (PDF). State of Hawaii. (ag.hawaii.gov). Retrieved January 5, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
↑ "Hawaii Bill HB2127". State of Hawaii. (capitol.hawaii.gov). Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
1 2 "Hawaii Bill SB1337". State of Hawaii. (capitol.hawaii.gov). Retrieved January 5, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
↑ "Medicaid Fraud Control Unit". State of Hawaii. (ag.hawaii.gov). Retrieved January 5, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
↑ "Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program" . Retrieved January 5, 2024.
↑ "Haw. Rev. Stat. § 28-11 : Hawaii Statutes - Section 28-11: Investigators; appointment and powers". Findlaw. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
↑ "Chief Special Investigator" (PDF). Hawaii Department of Human Resources Development. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
1 2 3 4 5 6 "Class Specifications: INVESTIGATOR SERIES" (PDF). ag.hawaii.gov. Retrieved July 25, 2022.

External links

Official website

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[Divisions-1] 1 2 "Hawaii AG Divisions". ag.hawaii.gov. Retrieved July 25, 2022.

[Attorney-General-OrgChart-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Attorney General Organizational Charts (June 30, 2023)" (PDF). State of Hawaii. (ag.hawaii.gov). Retrieved January 5, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

[HB2171-3] "Hawaii Bill HB2127". State of Hawaii. (capitol.hawaii.gov). Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

[SB1337-4] 1 2 "Hawaii Bill SB1337". State of Hawaii. (capitol.hawaii.gov). Retrieved January 5, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

[Medicaid-Fraud-5] "Medicaid Fraud Control Unit". State of Hawaii. (ag.hawaii.gov). Retrieved January 5, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

[ICAC-Task-Force-6] "Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program" . Retrieved January 5, 2024.

[7] "Haw. Rev. Stat. § 28-11 : Hawaii Statutes - Section 28-11: Investigators; appointment and powers". Findlaw. Retrieved November 19, 2015.

[8] "Chief Special Investigator" (PDF). Hawaii Department of Human Resources Development. Retrieved January 4, 2024.

[Investigators-9] 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Class Specifications: INVESTIGATOR SERIES" (PDF). ag.hawaii.gov. Retrieved July 25, 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]