Criminal Justice (Corrections)

passed · Vermont · Senate May 13, 2026

S 329: An act relating to criminal procedures involving firearms

This bill strengthens Vermont's firearm laws by increasing penalties for theft and possession. It classifies stealing any firearm as a serious felony and raises prison sentences for individuals with prior convictions who possess guns again. The legislation also bans firearm ownership for people with certain mental health court findings, prohibits machine guns, and restricts carrying weapons on licensed alcohol premises.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens firearm laws, increases penalties for theft/possession, and restricts ownership for those with mental health findings, thereby enhancing public safety and criminal justice enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Firearms

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introduced · Vermont · House Mar 11, 2026

H 926: An act relating to taking account of a defendant’s ability to pay for purposes of criminal fines, fees, and surcharges

This bill would prevent courts in Vermont from charging interest on unpaid criminal fines, fees, and surcharges while a defendant is in prison and for 90 days after their release. It also gives judges the authority to reduce or eliminate these surcharges when a defendant shows they cannot afford to pay them. The legislation aims to align financial penalties with a defendant's actual ability to pay during and shortly after incarceration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces financial barriers to justice by eliminating interest on fines during incarceration and allowing fee reductions based on ability to pay, supporting criminal justice reform and protecting civil rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 937: An act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures

This bill amends Vermont's judicial procedures to clarify how courts handle profits obtained from crimes and strengthens protections for victims seeking financial recovery. It expands the legal definition of "profits from crimes" to include income generated from selling illicit goods, assets obtained through unique criminal knowledge, and property whose value increased due to the notoriety of a conviction. The legislation requires businesses that pay profits from crimes to notify the Attorney General, who must then inform all known victims. It also establishes a three-year window for victims to sue for damages up to the value of the profits and allows the state to recover certain incarceration costs if victims do not claim the full amount. Additionally, the bill updates penalties for minors under 21 who misrepresent their age to purchase alcohol, possess alcohol or cannabis, or drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 or higher.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens victim protections and clarifies recovery of illicit profits, advancing criminal justice reform by ensuring victims can seek financial restitution.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 872: An act relating to enhancing criminal sentences for violent offenders

H.872 mandates minimum prison sentences for repeat violent offenders in Vermont. It requires a minimum sentence of half the maximum term (up to life) for anyone convicted of a third violent felony - defined as a felony with violence against a person - after two prior such convictions. The bill prohibits suspended sentences, probation, parole, or early release for the first three years of this mandatory term. It also amends sentencing rules to ban suspended sentences for all violent felony convictions, not just repeat offenders. This bill directly affects individuals with multiple violent felony convictions, changing their sentencing outcomes under Vermont law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates minimum sentences for repeat violent offenders and prohibits probation/parole, increasing punitive measures. This aligns with indicators of opposing criminal justice reform by restricting defendant rights and expanding mandatory inca...95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2026

H 919: An act relating to classifying incarcerated individuals as temporary State employees

H.919 would classify incarcerated individuals working under the Vermont Department of Corrections as temporary state employees for labor-related rights. This applies to anyone performing work "for, at the direction of, or under the supervision of" the Department. The bill grants these individuals access to wage and hour protections, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, and collective bargaining rights during their labor. It directly affects incarcerated people working in Vermont correctional facilities, changing their legal status for employment benefits without altering prison operations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClassifies incarcerated workers as temporary employees with labor rights, advancing civil rights and rehabilitation in corrections per reform indicators.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClassifies incarcerated workers as temporary employees, granting wage protections, workers' comp, unemployment insurance, and collective bargaining rights - directly advancing labor protections for this group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Collective Bargaining Labor Standards Unemployment

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 3, 2026

H 860: An act relating to establishing the Justice and Recovery Hub and Spoke System Working Group

H 860 creates a working group to develop a proposal for a "Justice and Recovery Hub" on state land near Burlington's Costello Courthouse and Department of Labor, plus identify additional "spoke" sites along public transit corridors. The group, composed of state agency directors and regional planning representatives, will design a hub including a 200-bed residential facility for people recently released from incarceration, recovery housing for youth (prioritizing those with Department for Children and Families history), and nonresidential components like firehouse space and business storefronts. It will also identify sites for "spoke" locations offering similar services in Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Washington Counties. The group must submit a report with recommendations by January 2027 and is allocated $200,000 for stakeholder engagement and expert support. This bill establishes a process for planning, not direct funding or construction.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates recovery housing and residential facility for recently incarcerated individuals, directly supporting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates 200-bed residential facility for formerly incarcerated individuals and youth recovery housing, directly advancing housing access for vulnerable populations facing housing instability.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates spoke sites along public transit corridors, promoting use of existing transit infrastructure for hub locations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Public Transit

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 3, 2026

H 856: An act relating to possessing regulated drugs and establishing the Drug Use Health and Safety Advisory Board

H.856 establishes Vermont's Drug Use Health and Safety Advisory Board to determine "benchmark personal use supply" amounts for regulated drugs, aiming to reduce criminal penalties for small-scale possession. The bill lowers penalties for low-level drug possession: reducing misdemeanor charges to a maximum $500 fine or six months in jail, and reclassifying some felony-level offenses as misdemeanors. The Advisory Board, composed of 13 members including people with lived drug use experience and harm reduction experts, must recommend these benchmarks by January 2027. These changes directly affect individuals possessing small, personal-use amounts of drugs like cocaine or LSD under specified thresholds.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces penalties for small-scale drug possession, reclassifies offenses, aligns with criminal justice reform goals to decrease incarceration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

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signed · Vermont · House May 27, 2026

H 635: An act relating to eliminating Department of Corrections supervisory fees

H 635 eliminates a $30 monthly supervisory fee previously charged to individuals on probation, furlough, supervised community sentences, or parole in Vermont. The bill prohibits the Department of Corrections from assessing, collecting, or pursuing outstanding fees, including through wage garnishment or tax offsets. It requires the department to forgive all existing fees, remove fee references from records, and stop all collection efforts. Failure to pay this fee will no longer be considered a violation of supervision terms.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEliminates financial barriers for probation/parole individuals, reducing recidivism risks and advancing correctional reform by removing fees that hinder reentry.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 550: An act relating to gender equity within Vermont’s correctional facilities

H.550 requires Vermont’s Department of Corrections to establish standards for addressing, housing, and providing care to transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals in correctional facilities. It mandates that facilities use an inmate’s chosen name and pronouns, allow housing based on gender identity (not anatomy), and prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, anatomy, or sexual orientation. The bill also requires staff to ask inmates about gender identity during intake and to reassess housing for safety concerns. These provisions directly affect all transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people incarcerated in Vermont’s state facilities. The bill aims to ensure respect, safety, and access to appropriate medical care while addressing systemic barriers in correctional settings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates gender-inclusive policies in correctional facilities, protecting transgender inmates' rights and aligning with criminal justice reform principles of equity and civil rights.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates non-discriminatory healthcare in correctional facilities for transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals, requiring appropriate care, housing, and use of chosen name/pronouns to protect patient rights and improve access.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 7, 2026

H 590: An act relating to prohibiting detention and incarceration of minors under 18 years of age in adult correctional facilities

This bill prohibits detaining or incarcerating minors under 18 in adult correctional facilities, except in limited cases where a minor is charged with a crime punishable by life imprisonment and the court determines public safety requires it. It applies to all minors involved in delinquency proceedings - both before and after a court adjudicates them as delinquent. Key provisions require immediate transfer of minors to juvenile facilities if mistakenly placed in adult facilities, mandate court findings for secure facility placement, and establish a process for independent review of prolonged detentions. The bill directly affects minors, juvenile justice agencies, and adult correctional facilities in Vermont.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits minors under 18 in adult facilities, promoting juvenile justice reform and rehabilitation, aligning with support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Juvenile Justice

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