Criminal Justice (Courts)

H.186 would require courts to impose a minimum two-year prison sentence for anyone convicted of selling or dispensing a regulated drug that causes a death, removing the judge's current ability to sentence below that term if they determine it serves "the interests of justice." This bill directly affects defendants in drug-related homicide cases where the death resulted from the sale or distribution of a regulated substance. The key provision eliminates judicial discretion in sentencing for these specific offenses, mandating the two-year minimum term without exception. The bill is currently under review by Vermont's Judiciary Committee after its initial introduction.

H 380 proposes two key changes to Vermont's criminal justice system. It upgrades penalties for violating release conditions (like missing court appearances) from misdemeanors to felonies, with maximum penalties of up to 3 years in prison or $5,000 fines. The bill also directs the Department of Corrections to hire 12 new Pretrial Supervision Officers and 2 administrative staff by fiscal year 2026 to fully staff the pretrial supervision program. These changes directly affect individuals released under court supervision and the Department of Corrections, with the law taking effect July 1, 2025.