Lawmakers are considering a bill that would impose harsher penalties for habitual property crime offenders.

The measure reflects Kailua residents’ ongoing concern that criminals are free to target their neighborhood because the justice system isn’t hard enough on them.

House Bill 2205, as currently drafted, would remove parole as a sentencing option for repeat offenders of property crimes, including burglaries and thefts.

Rep. Chris Lee (D, Kailua-Lanikai-Waimanalo) said he introduced the bill because he believes it can help protect the community. While rehabilitation for criminals is important, he said, not all offenders respond to reform.

"I think it’s pretty clear that when treatment fails, you need something to keep repeat criminals off the street," Lee said.

To further conversation on the issue, a large group of community members came together Thursday evening at Kailua District Park for a Windward property crime forum. Circuit Judge Steven S. Alm, Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro and state Director of Public Safety Ted Sakai attended.

Lee said there was a detectable level of tension among the 200 or so residents in attendance who pressed public officials for answers, but that ultimately it was productive.

"Despite the controversy and a lot of the frustration, I think some myths were dispelled, some questions (were) answered," he said. "And despite the fact that there are no easy overnight solutions, people have been engaged, so now we know where we can turn to for support."

Several community members have already expressed support for the bill through written testimony before the House Judiciary Committee earlier this session.

Kailua resident and local business owner William R. Hayes III wrote in his testimony that an employee who spent time in a federal prison once told him property crime seems prevalent because "as long as you don’t hurt anybody and stick to Class C felonies such as property crime, you won’t have to spend much, if any time, in prison."

Stacy Dees said in her written testimony that the Kailua Road home she shared with her young daughter was burglarized three times in September, and she lost more than $10,000 worth of electronics and jewelry.

Community Alliance on Prisons coordinator Kat Brady said she opposed an earlier draft of Lee’s bill that would have imposed mandatory minimum sentences on habitual property crime violators, because she believes mandatory minimums set by the Legislature are ineffective, expensive and "lazy justice."

Brady said the current draft also concerns her because imprisoning offenders for longer periods of time without offering rehabilitation programs could breed better criminals.

Lee disagrees.

"The point (of the bill) is to take those people who have failed to reform themselves and have failed rehabilitation and treatment and probation and continue to be a threat to the community, and keep those people off the streets," he said.

The bill remains alive and is waiting to be heard by the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee.