An act relating to the issuance of a Brady or Giglio letter as misconduct under jurisdiction of the Vermont Criminal Justice Council

This bill expands the definition of law enforcement misconduct in Vermont to include the issuance of Brady or Giglio letters, which are documents prosecutors provide to defense attorneys about evidence that could exonerate a defendant or impeach a witness. The change places these letters under the jurisdiction of the Vermont Criminal Justice Council, which oversees law enforcement discipline. The Council would have the authority to rescind a Brady or Giglio letter if an officer is later exonerated after an evidentiary hearing. Additionally, the bill classifies the issuance of such letters as Category B conduct, which generally does not require Council action for a first offense unless it involves specific serious violations like excessive force or failure to intervene. The law takes effect on July 1, 2023.