Opinion ID: 1121420
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Tolling the Time Period

Text: The language of HRPP 48 is clear and unambiguous. Criminal charges are to be dismissed if a trial on those charges does not commence within six months from the time of the arrest or of filing of the charges, whichever is sooner. HRPP 48(b)(1). The time period is tolled when a charge is dismissed by the prosecutor and the same charge or a charge required to be joined with the original charge is subsequently brought. HRPP 48(c)(6). Accordingly, HRPP 48(c)(6) provides two instances where the time period between the dismissal of the original charge and the institution of a new charge is excluded from the critical six-month calculation: 1) where the prosecution recharges the same offense it dismissed earlier; and 2) where the prosecution recharges a different offense which nevertheless was required to be joined with the original charge. The application of HRPP 48(c)(6) is obvious when the offense subsequently charged is the same as the offense originally charged. See Holt, supra . What constitutes an offense required to be joined with that [original] offense, however, is less clear. HRPP 8(c) [4] establishes that charges shall be dismissed for failure to join them with any related offense. Thus, pursuant to HRPP 8(c), any related offense is required to be joined. HRPP 13(b)(1) provides that, [t]wo or more offenses are related ... if they are within the jurisdiction of a single court and are based on the same conduct or arise from the same episode. HRS § 701-109(2) similarly defines offenses required to be joined. [5] Therefore, by the plain language of HRPP 8(c) and 13(b)(1), offenses are required to be joined if they are within the jurisdiction of a single court and are based upon the same conduct or arise from the same criminal episode. [6] Thus, if an initial charge is dismissed without prejudice and the defendant is later charged with a different offense, albeit one based upon the same conduct or arising from the same criminal episode, then the later offense is one that was required to be joined with the original offense, and the time period between dismissal of the original charge and the filing of a new charge is tolled, pursuant to HRPP 48(c)(6). In the instant case, HRPP 48(c)(6) requires that the time period between the dismissal of the original third degree assault charge and the subsequent second degree assault charge be excluded from the critical six-month calculation because both offenses were required to be joined, having arisen from the same episode.