Richard Taylor, a career criminal, was sentenced to three consecutive life terms and Mark Dunse was sentenced to life without parole. The deputies continue to carry heavy trial and appeal caseloads and respond to police inquiries regarding specific cases at all hours of the day or night. The Screening Unit for East Hawaii is responsible for all screening and charging decisions for East Hawaii cases, including both felony and misdemeanor cases. They also analyze cases for plea negotiations and present appropriate cases to the Grand Jury. The benefit to the County is greater uniformity in charging and faster response to the public.
Forfeitures remain an uncertain source of revenue for the office.
Funds have been used for law enforcement purposes including crime prevention programs such as the McGruff anti-shoplifting program. This unit also handles Family Court criminal matters. This unit also maintains a list of fugitives from Hawaii County on the FBI's National Crime Information Center computer system. The unit also works closely with the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Office in returning fugitives nationally or internationally. Case information, limited crisis counseling, assistance with restitution and crime victim compensation and referrals to other agencies to satisfy victims' needs are some of the many duties assigned to this unit.