PUBLIC SAFETY

Neil Abercrombie has been an ardent and long‐standing supporter for preventing hate crimes. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act, giving law enforcement resources to prevent and prosecute hate crimes against Americans based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, was finally signed into law in October 2009.

Understanding the benefits of effective treatment for minor drug offenders rather than incarceration, Abercrombie led the effort for several years to increase federal funding for drug courts across the nation and in Hawaii. His efforts garnered support from over 70 Members of Congress and led to increased funds for this proven alternative.

Abercrombie has consistently supported funding for community justice assistance programs under the Violence Against Women Act, COPS, and the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant and obtained funding for the Honolulu Police Department to update its forensic lab, the only full scale forensic laboratory in the Pacific Basin. He also obtained funding for the University of Hawaii Richardson School of Law to continue an Innocence Project in Hawaii, a legal program that allows UH law students to work to free wrongly incarcerated individuals while gaining legal experience.