Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 660-22

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.

Any person who neglects or refuses promptly to perform any duty imposed upon such person by virtue of any writ of habeas corpus or order to show cause, conformably to this chapter, shall be responsible in a civil action to any person aggrieved for damages occasioned thereby, and may be fined not more than $5,000, or imprisoned at hard labor not more than ten years, or both.