Urging The Department Of Agriculture To Establish A Two-year Agricultural Crime Pilot Project To Examine And Assess The Effectiveness Of Prosecuting Agricultural Crime Cases, Including Those Of Agricultural Theft, Vandalism, And Trespass, In The State.
If implemented, the pilot project would provide crucial resources to combat agricultural crimes, which have not only financial but also operational implications for farming operations. By expanding resources and capabilities to prosecute these crimes, the resolution promises to enhance the protection for farmers, ranchers, aquaculturists, and floriculturists across the state. This could potentially lead to more successful prosecutions and a higher reporting rate of agricultural crimes, thereby reducing the occurrence of such crimes significantly.
Senate Resolution 138 urges the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to establish a two-year Agricultural Crime Pilot Project aimed at examining and assessing the effectiveness of prosecuting agricultural crime cases. This includes addressing issues such as agricultural theft, vandalism, and trespass, which have significantly affected local farmers and ranchers. The resolution stems from the alarming statistics detailing nearly 19,000 incidents of agricultural crime in Hawaii in 2019, costing the state's agriculture sector approximately $14.4 million. The proposed pilot project aims to better understand how to mitigate these crimes and improve the legal responses to them.
The sentiment surrounding SR138 appears to be positive, especially among stakeholders in the agricultural community who have voiced concerns regarding the impact of agricultural crimes on their operations. There is a clear expectation that this pilot project could lead to enhanced safety and security for farmers, thereby promising a more viable future for agricultural practices in Hawaii. However, detailed discussions about potential funding and resources would likely be critical in the implementation phase.
One of the notable points of contention around this resolution is the need for comprehensive assessment metrics to evaluate the project's effectiveness. The Department of Agriculture will need to focus on identifying the best practices for prosecuting agricultural crimes, which may involve collaboration with local law enforcement agencies. Additionally, there may be concerns on how this project could be funded and how effectively it can be integrated into existing agricultural and law enforcement frameworks in Hawaii.