(AP) – Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm hopes to quickly reinstate HOPE probation in his second term. Alm is running uncontested for reelection this year and said the probation model ensures predictable and immediate sanctions for those who violate their conditions. HOPE stands for Hawaii’s Opportunity Probation with Enforcement. The state largely stopped using HOPE during the Covid-19 pandemic because of the court’s reluctance to place more people in jail where the virus could easily spread. Alm swears by its strength and says he’s determined to bring it back, despite studies that have emerged in recent years showing varying results. While some studies showed the program had positive results, others found it didn’t reduce recidivism.