Criminal Justice (Corrections)

This bill redefines how Vermont calculates recidivism (reoffending after a prior conviction) and establishes a four-tier classification system for repeat violent offenders. It sets specific time thresholds between offenses: Class 1 requires at least one year, Class 2 three years, Class 3 five years, and Class 4 ten years before a new conviction. The Department of Corrections will use these definitions to measure recidivism rates and track repeat violent offenders. The changes apply to individuals sentenced to over one year in prison or convicted of violent offenses, effective July 1, 2025. The bill does not alter sentencing or penalties but standardizes how these metrics are calculated.