Criminal Justice

introduced · Vermont · House Jan 9, 2025

H 19: An act relating to grand larceny of a firearm

This Vermont bill (H.19) changes the definition of grand larceny to automatically include the theft of any firearm, regardless of its value. Previously, grand larceny required stolen property to exceed $900 in value; this bill removes that threshold specifically for firearms. The key mechanism amends Vermont law to list "a firearm of any value" as a separate basis for grand larceny charges under § 2501(2). This directly affects individuals who steal firearms, subjecting them to the same penalties as other high-value thefts (up to 10 years in prison or $5,000 fine). The law takes effect upon passage.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves $900 value threshold for firearm theft, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties for firearm larceny under grand larceny charges.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms

Track

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 27, 2025

H 411: An act relating to public safety

H 411 updates Vermont's public safety laws with several key changes. It extends extradition timelines to 120 days for individuals violating bail, probation, or parole in another state, and mandates a minimum five-year prison sentence for high-risk sex offenders who fail to comply with registry requirements. The bill restricts judges from using alternative sentences for repeat offenders or those violating probation without written justification, and changes the process for sealing criminal records to make sealing standard for most completed sentences with limited access for criminal justice and licensing purposes. Additionally, it transfers juvenile case jurisdiction for certain offenses from the Family Division to the Criminal Division and repeals a law that had raised the age of juvenile jurisdiction to 19.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates 5-year sentences for sex offenders, restricts judicial alternatives for repeat offenders, and tightens record sealing - increasing penalties and limiting judicial discretion per reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

Track

introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 13, 2025

S 116: An act relating to crimes against an unborn child

Vermont's S.116 would define an unborn child as a "person" under criminal law when bodily injury or death results from a crime, allowing prosecutors to charge perpetrators without proving they knew about the pregnancy or intended harm to the fetus. This directly affects individuals who commit crimes (like assault or homicide) causing fetal harm, while explicitly protecting pregnant women from prosecution for their own actions and legal medical procedures like abortions with consent. The bill adds a new section to Vermont law clarifying that an unborn child is deemed a person for criminal offenses involving injury or death, but excludes abortion and medical treatments from prosecution. It aims to resolve inconsistencies in past court rulings about fetal personhood under criminal statutes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by defining unborn child as a person in criminal law, enabling prosecution for fetal harm without intent proof, thus increasing scope of criminal offenses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Violent Crime

Track

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2025

H 252: An act relating to prohibiting earned time for second or subsequent felony convictions

This bill (H 252) prohibits individuals convicted of a second or subsequent felony from earning time off their prison sentence through Vermont's earned time program. It amends 28 V.S.A. § 818 to explicitly exclude people sentenced for a felony after a prior felony conviction from participating in the program. The key change removes this group from eligibility, meaning repeat felony offenders cannot reduce their sentences via earned time. This applies to all current and future offenders meeting this criteria, excluding them from the standard earned time provisions. The bill is currently pending referral to the Committee on Corrections and Institutions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeProhibits earned time for repeat felony offenders, restricting sentence reductions and opposing rehabilitation-focused reforms in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

vetoed · Vermont · House Apr 9, 2025

H 489: An act relating to fiscal year 2025 budget adjustments

H.489 adjusts the Vermont state budget for fiscal year 2025 by modifying funding allocations across multiple agencies. It increases total funding for the Judiciary by $2.56 million (primarily through General Fund) and shifts $786,000 from Operating Expenses to Personal Services for the Agency of Digital Services. The bill also raises Human Services funding by $841,000, including a $4.3 million increase in the Global Commitment fund, while reducing Public Safety Criminal Justice Services funding by $681,000. These changes directly affect state agencies managing digital infrastructure, courts, public safety, and human services programs. The bill was vetoed by the Governor on April 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases Judiciary ($2.56M) and Human Services ($841k + $4.3M Global Commitment), funding essential programs through budget adjustments.90% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeReduces Public Safety Criminal Justice Services funding, directly defunding a core criminal justice service area.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyShifts $786k to Agency of Digital Services for tech operations, directly funding digital infrastructure85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Digital Government

Track

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2025

H 133: An act relating to repealing the statutes that authorize the State Lottery and sports wagering

H 133 would repeal Vermont's current laws authorizing the state lottery (31 V.S.A. Chapter 14) and sports wagering (31 V.S.A. Chapter 25). This bill directly affects current lottery operators, sports betting providers, and participants in Vermont who rely on these legally sanctioned activities. The key mechanism is removing the specific authorizations, making any lottery or sports wagering subject to Vermont's general gambling laws (13 V.S.A. Chapter 51), which treat such activities as criminal offenses. The bill does not create new rules but eliminates the existing legal framework for these specific gambling activities.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRepealing lottery/sports wagering laws eliminates a state revenue source, directly defunding budget-related income streams as these activities generate tax revenue.95% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill repeals legal gambling authorizations, making lottery/sports wagering criminal under general gambling laws, expanding criminalization per topic indicators.95% confidence

Track

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 11, 2025

H 186: An act relating to removal of court discretion in sentencing a defendant for selling or dispensing a regulated drug with death resulting

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates minimum sentences, removing judicial discretion in drug homicide cases, increasing mandatory penalties per bill's explicit language95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Sentencing

Track

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 26, 2025

H 380: An act relating to creating a felony penalty for a violation of conditions of release and to staff the pretrial supervision program

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeUpgrades release violation penalties to felony (increases criminalization), overriding pretrial staffing provision as primary intent90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

Track

introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 28, 2025

S 96: An act relating to the calculation of recidivism and other related criminology measures

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill tightens recidivism thresholds for repeat violent offenders, enabling harsher sentencing classifications (e.g., 1-year gap for Class 1), opposing reform by prioritizing punitive measures over rehabilitation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

Track