Criminal Justice (Corrections)

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 26, 2025

H 382: An act relating to data collection in the criminal justice system

H.382, the Vermont Justice Transparency Act, requires Vermont's Judiciary, crime information center, state's attorneys, sheriffs, and corrections department to collect and publicly post detailed criminal justice data. It mandates reporting on demographics (age, race, gender), case specifics (bail amounts, sentencing, plea deals), and system metrics (solitary confinement, opioid treatment in prisons, recidivism) starting between 2026 and 2028. The data must include county-level details and be posted online in accessible formats for public review. This law directly affects state agencies responsible for data collection and provides transparency for Vermont residents regarding criminal justice outcomes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates public data collection on demographics, sentencing, and recidivism to enhance transparency and inform criminal justice reform efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Sentencing

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 350: An act relating to automatic opening knives

H 350 removes criminal penalties for possessing, selling, or offering for sale automatic opening knives (like switchblades) with blades three inches or longer. Currently, Vermont law imposes fines up to $100 or up to 90 days in jail for these items under 13 V.S.A. § 4013. The bill amends this statute to eliminate those penalties entirely. It is pending before the Judiciary Committee after its first reading on February 25, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves criminal penalties for non-violent knife possession, reducing unnecessary criminalization and aligning with reform goals to limit over-policing of minor offenses.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 436: An act relating to establishing reentry facilities for persons under the custody of the Commissioner of Corrections

H 436 establishes a new system for Vermont's Department of Corrections to create reentry facilities for low-risk individuals transitioning from incarceration. The bill requires the Department to assess and place eligible people (including those awaiting trial) in these facilities based on evidence-based risk evaluations, providing transitional services like housing assistance, mental health care, and job training. It mandates annual reports tracking facility use, security levels, and services provided. The policy directly affects low-risk inmates and pretrial detainees, aiming to improve community reintegration while prioritizing public safety through structured, less restrictive housing.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes evidence-based reentry facilities with housing, mental health, and job training to reduce recidivism and support rehabilitation for low-risk individuals transitioning from incarceration.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly includes mental health care as a required transitional service in reentry facilities, directly supporting mental health services under healthcare topic.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates job training as a transitional service for reentry, directly supporting employment outcomes for formerly incarcerated individuals.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Mental Health Workforce Development

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signed · Vermont · House May 12, 2026

H 410: An act relating to the calculation of recidivism and other related criminology measures

This bill redefines how Vermont calculates recidivism - reoffending after a criminal conviction - by creating a four-tier classification system based on the time between offenses. It establishes categories where offenders are classified as "Class 1" (reoffending after 1+ year), "Class 2" (3+ years), "Class 3" (5+ years), or "Class 4" (10+ years) after release. The Department of Corrections must use this system to track repeat offenders, including those convicted of violent crimes, and report recidivism rates. This directly affects the state’s corrections system and individuals who reoffend, but does not change sentencing laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes tiered recidivism tracking to improve offender classification and reporting, enabling data-driven rehabilitation strategies and aligning with reform goals like reducing repeat offenses.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 108: An act relating to filial support

This bill would remove criminal penalties for adult children who fail to support their destitute parents in Vermont. Currently, adult children who refuse to provide financial support to a parent unable to support themselves (and living in Vermont) could face up to two years in jail or a $300 fine. The bill specifically repeals these criminal penalties under Vermont law but does not change the underlying obligation for adult children to support parents in need. It directly affects Vermont residents who are adult children and parents in destitute circumstances.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves criminal penalties for filial support non-compliance, decriminalizing a civil matter and reducing unnecessary incarceration in criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 14, 2025

H 32: An act relating to treatment for opioid use disorder in correctional facilities

This bill requires Vermont's Department of Corrections to partner with local opioid treatment programs to provide medication for opioid use disorder (like buprenorphine or methadone) in correctional facilities. It ensures inmates with opioid use disorder can continue their prescribed medication upon admission and receive at least a 28-day supply upon release to maintain treatment continuity. The law updates existing medical care standards to mandate these partnerships through memorandums of understanding with community treatment providers. It directly affects incarcerated individuals in Vermont facilities who require opioid use disorder treatment, aligning their care with community-based treatment systems. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to improve access to evidence-based treatment during incarceration and transition to community care.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates opioid treatment continuity in prisons to reduce relapse and recidivism, directly improving correctional rehabilitation programs per bill's requirements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates medication for opioid use disorder in correctional facilities, ensuring treatment continuity upon admission/release and expanding access to healthcare services for inmates with addiction.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Apr 9, 2025

S 147: An act relating to purchasing drugs from a person under 21 years of age

Vermont's S 147 creates a new criminal offense for knowingly purchasing regulated drugs from anyone under 21 years old. The bill directly affects individuals who buy such drugs from minors, making this action punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison in addition to other legal penalties. Key provisions define the offense as "knowingly and unlawfully" purchasing and specify the mandatory sentencing range. The law will take effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to all regulated drugs under Vermont law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new offense with 1-5 year mandatory prison sentence for purchasing drugs from minors, expanding criminalization and increasing mandatory sentences.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 22, 2025

S 19: An act relating to expanding the scope of hate-motivated crimes

This bill expands Vermont's hate crime law to include offenses targeting a "group of particular persons" (like a religious community or LGBTQ+ group), not just individual victims. It increases penalties for crimes motivated by bias against protected categories - such as race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability - based on the original crime's severity. For example, a misdemeanor hate crime could now carry up to two years in prison or a $2,000 fine, while felony-level offenses face enhanced sentencing. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and defines "protected categories" to include both actual and perceived membership in these groups.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands hate crime protections for groups (LGBTQ+, religious), increases penalties for bias-motivated crimes - directly strengthens civil rights protections within criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections Sentencing

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signed · Vermont · Senate May 20, 2026

S 89: An act relating to expanding survivor benefits

S.89, "Jessica’s Law," expands Vermont's survivor benefits to cover families of law enforcement officers, Department of Corrections employees (in direct security/treatment roles), Family Services Division staff, and employees at state-operated therapeutic communities or inpatient psychiatric hospitals who die while on duty or from work-related illnesses. The bill adds these groups to the existing definition of "emergency personnel" under Vermont law, ensuring they qualify for the same survivor benefits previously available to firefighters and emergency medical staff. Benefits would be paid to surviving spouses, then children, then parents if no immediate family remains, following current distribution rules. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands survivor benefits to law enforcement and corrections staff, directly supporting personnel in criminal justice roles through enhanced benefits for families of on-duty deaths.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands survivor benefits to additional state workers (including on-duty fatalities), strengthening employment protections and financial security for families.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2025

H 255: An act relating to establishing increased criminal penalties for an assault of a public transit worker

H 255 increases criminal penalties for assaulting public transit workers in Vermont. It adds up to one year in prison for a first assault offense and up to 10 years for repeat offenses against workers while they perform their duties. The bill also prohibits intentionally exposing transit workers to bodily fluids (like blood or vomit), punishable by up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine. "Public transit worker" is defined to include drivers (employees or volunteers) and support staff at transit centers. The law applies to all such assaults committed while workers are on duty, excluding individuals under 18 in residential facilities.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases criminal penalties for assaults on transit workers, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing, opposing reform-focused criminal justice policies.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill directly strengthens workplace safety protections for transit workers by increasing penalties for assault and bodily fluid exposure, aligning with Labor & Employment protections.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances safety for public transit workers, strengthening the public transit system and protecting workers through increased criminal penalties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime Public Transit

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