Summary
Cecelia Chang, J.D. is an attorney with a law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawai'i at Manoa (1985) and a legal background in criminal prosecution and civil litigation. Since 1997, she has served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, City and County of Honolulu, Hawai'i, and from 1998 to 2010 served as the director for the Honolulu Community Prosecution Program. In this capacity, she planned and implemented community prosecution strategies to improve the quality of life in Honolulu. She worked at the grassroots with community stakeholders to solve chronic crime problems that adversely affected neighborhood safety and livability.
She also led the local prosecution component for Honolulu Weed and Seed, a collaborative strategy administered by the United States Department of Justice. She created procedures for the prosecution of adult and juvenile offenders in Honolulu's Weed and Seed sites and coordinated with the State of Hawai'i Judiciary to establish a dedicated Weed and Seed Court; these broad systemic changes significantly reduced crime in the targeted areas. Honolulu Weed and Seed has been recognized by the United States Department of Justice for effective collaboration.
From 2011 to 2012, Ms. Chang prosecuted special cases designated as Weed and Seed, Waikiki Special District, Mental Health, Jail Diversion and Drug Court. Since 2013, she has represented the State of Hawai'i in felony jury trials, and more recently, in the Veterans Treatment Court cases.
Class Materials
- JM 792 - Community Prosecution