Criminal Justice (Corrections)

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 20, 2025

H 298: An act relating to restricting the Department of Corrections’ cooperation with federal immigration authorities

This bill restricts Vermont's Department of Corrections (DOC) from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. It prohibits DOC staff from contacting federal agencies about an individual's immigration status, prolonging detention to investigate status, or accepting requests for immigration enforcement support. The DOC must terminate existing agreements with federal immigration authorities within 30 days and submit annual reports to legislative committees detailing any federal requests for assistance. Additionally, the DOC must create staff training protocols and penalties for noncompliance with these restrictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents DOC from prolonging detention for immigration status, protecting civil rights within corrections system85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRestricts state DOC cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, limiting state involvement in federal immigration actions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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vetoed · Vermont · House May 20, 2025

H 219: An act relating to establishing the Department of Corrections’ Family Support Program

H 219 establishes the Department of Corrections’ Family Support Program, providing free parenting and trauma-informed family support services to all incarcerated individuals who are parents or guardians. The program aims to increase parents' knowledge and skills, offer resources for communicating with their children and caregivers, and create child-friendly visitation spaces. It also includes outreach for children's services and reentry support for parents. The bill directs the Department to include funding for these services in its annual budget, with initial implementation at the Chittenden Regional and Northern State Correctional Facilities and an intent to expand statewide by 2028, contingent on appropriated funds.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes trauma-informed family support services for incarcerated parents to reduce recidivism through rehabilitation, reentry support, and child-friendly visitation, directly advancing criminal justice reform indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2025

H 19: An act relating to grand larceny of a firearm

This Vermont bill (H.19) changes the definition of grand larceny to automatically include the theft of any firearm, regardless of its value. Previously, grand larceny required stolen property to exceed $900 in value; this bill removes that threshold specifically for firearms. The key mechanism amends Vermont law to list "a firearm of any value" as a separate basis for grand larceny charges under § 2501(2). This directly affects individuals who steal firearms, subjecting them to the same penalties as other high-value thefts (up to 10 years in prison or $5,000 fine). The law takes effect upon passage.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves $900 value threshold for firearm theft, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties for firearm larceny under grand larceny charges.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 11, 2025

H 176: An act relating to developing the Department of Corrections’ community restitution program

H 176 requires Vermont's Department of Corrections to reinstate its community work program (called "work crew") by July 1, 2025, after it was discontinued in 2023. The bill mandates reinstating prior policies and sets minimum requirements: offenders must be assigned at least 20 work crew days per court order, or 60 days total across multiple orders. This directly affects individuals sentenced to community restitution and the Department of Corrections, which must implement the program by the deadline. The law takes effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReinstates community restitution program requiring work crew days, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration - aligns with reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Victims' Rights

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 411: An act relating to public safety

H 411 updates Vermont's public safety laws with several key changes. It extends extradition timelines to 120 days for individuals violating bail, probation, or parole in another state, and mandates a minimum five-year prison sentence for high-risk sex offenders who fail to comply with registry requirements. The bill restricts judges from using alternative sentences for repeat offenders or those violating probation without written justification, and changes the process for sealing criminal records to make sealing standard for most completed sentences with limited access for criminal justice and licensing purposes. Additionally, it transfers juvenile case jurisdiction for certain offenses from the Family Division to the Criminal Division and repeals a law that had raised the age of juvenile jurisdiction to 19.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates 5-year sentences for sex offenders, restricts judicial alternatives for repeat offenders, and tightens record sealing - increasing penalties and limiting judicial discretion per reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2025

H 252: An act relating to prohibiting earned time for second or subsequent felony convictions

This bill (H 252) prohibits individuals convicted of a second or subsequent felony from earning time off their prison sentence through Vermont's earned time program. It amends 28 V.S.A. § 818 to explicitly exclude people sentenced for a felony after a prior felony conviction from participating in the program. The key change removes this group from eligibility, meaning repeat felony offenders cannot reduce their sentences via earned time. This applies to all current and future offenders meeting this criteria, excluding them from the standard earned time provisions. The bill is currently pending referral to the Committee on Corrections and Institutions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeProhibits earned time for repeat felony offenders, restricting sentence reductions and opposing rehabilitation-focused reforms in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2025

H 18: An act relating to decriminalizing nonmoving DLS violations for third-time offenders

H.18 would reclassify third-time nonmoving license violations (such as parking tickets) as civil offenses instead of criminal ones for drivers with suspended licenses. Specifically, it changes penalties for individuals who operate a vehicle with a suspended license after their third nonmoving violation within a two-year period, shifting from potential jail time or large fines to civil penalties like fines and community service. This applies only to nonmoving violations (not moving traffic offenses like speeding), affecting repeat offenders who commit nonmoving violations after multiple license suspensions. The bill, if passed, would take effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReclassifies minor traffic violations from criminal to civil penalties, reducing unnecessary criminal records and aligning with criminal justice reform principles by minimizing over-criminalization of non-serious offenses.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 12, 2025

H 200: An act relating to persons prohibited from possessing firearms

H 200 prohibits Vermont residents found by a court to pose a danger to themselves or others due to mental illness from possessing firearms. This new rule applies to individuals under specific court orders for mental health treatment or hospitalization, aligning Vermont law with federal standards. The bill also increases penalties for second or subsequent offenses of firearm possession by prohibited persons, raising the maximum penalty to three years in jail or a $5,000 fine. It does not change existing prohibitions for other reasons, such as violent crime convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts firearm access for high-risk individuals (mental health court orders) and increases penalties for violations, aligning with federal standards to prevent gun violence, a key criminal justice reform goal.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Firearms

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introduced · Vermont · House Mar 20, 2025

H 490: An act relating to incentivizing community service sentencing in certain cases

H 490 would reduce the required community service hours for individuals convicted of a second impaired driving offense under Vermont law. It specifically targets people sentenced for a second offense under 23 V.S.A. § 1210(c), aiming to make community service a more appealing sentencing option compared to jail time. The bill cites Vermont’s Restorative Justice Policy (28 V.S.A. § 2a) as justification, arguing aligning the hours encourages community service use. It also references Department of Corrections data to measure potential impacts on incarceration rates, though the bill itself only changes the sentencing requirement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces community service hours for second impaired driving offenses to incentivize restorative justice alternatives per Vermont's Restorative Justice Policy, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 12, 2025

H 192: An act relating to prohibiting solitary confinement for children

H.192 prohibits the use of solitary or room confinement for children in secure facilities (like detention centers) except as a temporary measure when a child poses an immediate risk of physical harm to themselves or others. The bill requires staff to first attempt de-escalation techniques, such as talking with the child or involving a mental health professional, before confinement. It limits confinement time to a maximum of 30 minutes for self-harm risks or 3 hours for risks to others, mandates 15-minute check-ins, and requires release when the risk subsides. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and excludes regular sleeping hours and single-occupancy rooms not used for confinement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits solitary confinement for minors in detention centers, requiring de-escalation and time limits, directly advancing youth protection and reform in corrections within criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires mental health professionals in de-escalation before confinement, directly supporting mental health services for children in detention.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

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