Martial Law and Crime

Abstract

The attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941, resulted in martial rule for Hawaii, a rule which had never previously been experienced here as an American Territory. Martial law had been enforced earlier when the islands constituted an independent republic. On that fateful day in December Governor Poindexter by declaration placed all the islands under martial law which still continues in effect. The situation called for close cooperation between civilian and military authorities, with added responsibility for the civilian police. When martial law was declared in the Territory, its regulations affected a population which had rapidly increased because of the exigencies of defense work. The influx of civilian war workers and army and navy personnel had greatly increased the population of the islands. The City and County of Honolulu had naturally received the larger share of this increase. Because of the increased population and the added duties of the law enforcement agencies, the Military Governor of Hawaii authorized an addition of 200 regulars to the Honolulu police personnel. Supplementing this, a volunteer group of business and professional men were formed into a Police Reserve. This increased strength was utilized by the Department in more effective patrolling of the various areas of the city, making possible intensified control over areas where crime was likely to be prevalent. Increased labor demands have contributed toward the preservation of law and order. With the lengthening of working hours, which in many cases now amount to seven days a week, little time is left for crime. The huge demands for labor afforded employment for all, even the young people who had previously been refused work. By rule of military authorities, every one was required to work and the bums, vagrants, and professional idlers were made to get busy contributing to the war effort. There was little time for getting into trouble. The Police Department still has the duty of making investigations and arrests for criminal offenses amongst the civilian population, but martial law brought with it a new system of courts for trying criminal cases. These courts, known as provost courts and military commissions, were established by the Military Governor upon the declaration of martial rule and the right of civilian courts to try criminal cases was suspended. The provost courts and mili-