Criminal Justice (Corrections)

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 23, 2026

H 763: An act relating to how to count certain offenders for the purpose of periodic reapportionment of districts for the General Assembly

H 763 (Vermont House Bill) changes how incarcerated individuals are counted for redistricting. It requires Vermont’s Department of Corrections to track offenders’ pre-incarceration addresses and share this data with the Legislative Apportionment Board before each census. The Board must then adjust population counts so that incarcerated people are counted at their home address (not the prison location) when redrawing voting districts for the state legislature. This applies to all offenders except those serving life sentences without parole, who remain counted at the prison location. The bill aims to ensure districts reflect where people actually live, not where they are imprisoned.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill changes redistricting to count incarcerated people at home addresses, reducing prison-based gerrymandering - a criminal justice reform promoting fair representation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 6, 2026

H 564: An act relating to compensation for wrongful convictions

This bill establishes a clear right for individuals wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for at least six months to seek compensation from the state if later exonerated (e.g., through conviction reversal, dismissal, acquittal, or pardon), regardless of the exoneration method. To qualify, claimants must prove actual innocence (without fabricating evidence or committing perjury) and meet specific procedural requirements. Compensation includes $30,000-$60,000 per year of wrongful incarceration, plus lost wages, defense costs, up to 10 years of state-funded health coverage, and reintegration services. Courts must provide notice of this right to exonerees, and claims must be filed within three years of exoneration, with limited exceptions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes state compensation for wrongful convictions, advancing accountability and civil rights in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Victims' Rights

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2026

H 628: An act relating to domestic abuse orders of protection

This bill (H.628) amends Vermont's domestic abuse protection laws to allow courts to issue orders requiring defendants under Department of Corrections supervision - convicted of specific violent crimes like domestic assault or sexual assault - to continue paying household bills they were responsible for at the time the plaintiff requested the order. It directly affects domestic abuse victims (plaintiffs) and defendants in correctional supervision who have committed certain violent offenses. The key provision adds a requirement for defendants to cover household expenses for up to three months, in addition to standard protective measures like restraining orders or housing awards. This change ensures financial stability for victims during the protection process without altering existing legal standards for abuse claims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates defendants under correctional supervision for violent domestic crimes to continue household bill payments, enhancing victim financial security within criminal justice framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Violent Crime

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 26, 2025

H 382: An act relating to data collection in the criminal justice system

H.382, the Vermont Justice Transparency Act, requires Vermont's Judiciary, crime information center, state's attorneys, sheriffs, and corrections department to collect and publicly post detailed criminal justice data. It mandates reporting on demographics (age, race, gender), case specifics (bail amounts, sentencing, plea deals), and system metrics (solitary confinement, opioid treatment in prisons, recidivism) starting between 2026 and 2028. The data must include county-level details and be posted online in accessible formats for public review. This law directly affects state agencies responsible for data collection and provides transparency for Vermont residents regarding criminal justice outcomes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates public data collection on demographics, sentencing, and recidivism to enhance transparency and inform criminal justice reform efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Sentencing

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 350: An act relating to automatic opening knives

H 350 removes criminal penalties for possessing, selling, or offering for sale automatic opening knives (like switchblades) with blades three inches or longer. Currently, Vermont law imposes fines up to $100 or up to 90 days in jail for these items under 13 V.S.A. § 4013. The bill amends this statute to eliminate those penalties entirely. It is pending before the Judiciary Committee after its first reading on February 25, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves criminal penalties for non-violent knife possession, reducing unnecessary criminalization and aligning with reform goals to limit over-policing of minor offenses.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 28, 2025

H 436: An act relating to establishing reentry facilities for persons under the custody of the Commissioner of Corrections

H 436 establishes a new system for Vermont's Department of Corrections to create reentry facilities for low-risk individuals transitioning from incarceration. The bill requires the Department to assess and place eligible people (including those awaiting trial) in these facilities based on evidence-based risk evaluations, providing transitional services like housing assistance, mental health care, and job training. It mandates annual reports tracking facility use, security levels, and services provided. The policy directly affects low-risk inmates and pretrial detainees, aiming to improve community reintegration while prioritizing public safety through structured, less restrictive housing.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes evidence-based reentry facilities with housing, mental health, and job training to reduce recidivism and support rehabilitation for low-risk individuals transitioning from incarceration.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly includes mental health care as a required transitional service in reentry facilities, directly supporting mental health services under healthcare topic.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates job training as a transitional service for reentry, directly supporting employment outcomes for formerly incarcerated individuals.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Mental Health Workforce Development

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signed · Vermont · House May 12, 2026

H 410: An act relating to the calculation of recidivism and other related criminology measures

This bill redefines how Vermont calculates recidivism - reoffending after a criminal conviction - by creating a four-tier classification system based on the time between offenses. It establishes categories where offenders are classified as "Class 1" (reoffending after 1+ year), "Class 2" (3+ years), "Class 3" (5+ years), or "Class 4" (10+ years) after release. The Department of Corrections must use this system to track repeat offenders, including those convicted of violent crimes, and report recidivism rates. This directly affects the state’s corrections system and individuals who reoffend, but does not change sentencing laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes tiered recidivism tracking to improve offender classification and reporting, enabling data-driven rehabilitation strategies and aligning with reform goals like reducing repeat offenses.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2025

H 108: An act relating to filial support

This bill would remove criminal penalties for adult children who fail to support their destitute parents in Vermont. Currently, adult children who refuse to provide financial support to a parent unable to support themselves (and living in Vermont) could face up to two years in jail or a $300 fine. The bill specifically repeals these criminal penalties under Vermont law but does not change the underlying obligation for adult children to support parents in need. It directly affects Vermont residents who are adult children and parents in destitute circumstances.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves criminal penalties for filial support non-compliance, decriminalizing a civil matter and reducing unnecessary incarceration in criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 14, 2025

H 32: An act relating to treatment for opioid use disorder in correctional facilities

This bill requires Vermont's Department of Corrections to partner with local opioid treatment programs to provide medication for opioid use disorder (like buprenorphine or methadone) in correctional facilities. It ensures inmates with opioid use disorder can continue their prescribed medication upon admission and receive at least a 28-day supply upon release to maintain treatment continuity. The law updates existing medical care standards to mandate these partnerships through memorandums of understanding with community treatment providers. It directly affects incarcerated individuals in Vermont facilities who require opioid use disorder treatment, aligning their care with community-based treatment systems. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to improve access to evidence-based treatment during incarceration and transition to community care.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates opioid treatment continuity in prisons to reduce relapse and recidivism, directly improving correctional rehabilitation programs per bill's requirements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates medication for opioid use disorder in correctional facilities, ensuring treatment continuity upon admission/release and expanding access to healthcare services for inmates with addiction.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 22, 2025

S 19: An act relating to expanding the scope of hate-motivated crimes

This bill expands Vermont's hate crime law to include offenses targeting a "group of particular persons" (like a religious community or LGBTQ+ group), not just individual victims. It increases penalties for crimes motivated by bias against protected categories - such as race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability - based on the original crime's severity. For example, a misdemeanor hate crime could now carry up to two years in prison or a $2,000 fine, while felony-level offenses face enhanced sentencing. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and defines "protected categories" to include both actual and perceived membership in these groups.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands hate crime protections for groups (LGBTQ+, religious), increases penalties for bias-motivated crimes - directly strengthens civil rights protections within criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections Sentencing

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