Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)

introduced · Vermont · House Feb 26, 2025

H 361: An act relating to creating municipal and regional civilian oversight of law enforcement

This bill creates local civilian oversight boards in Vermont municipalities and regions to investigate complaints against police officers and agencies. These boards, which can be appointed or elected, receive complaints, conduct investigations (in addition to agency reviews), and issue public reports with recommendations that the Vermont Criminal Justice Council must consider. The bill specifically bans chokehold training except for prevention and requires law enforcement agencies to report serious incidents like officer-involved deaths to these boards within 10 business days. It directly affects all Vermont police departments, officers, and the Criminal Justice Council, which must follow board recommendations on officer discipline.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates civilian oversight boards for police accountability, bans chokeholds, mandates reporting - directly advancing criminal justice reform through enhanced law enforcement oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 27, 2025

S 94: An act relating to the duty of the Attorney General to enforce certain criminal offenses

This bill designates Vermont's Attorney General as the primary enforcement authority for specific criminal cases, directly affecting how these cases are handled by state prosecutors. It requires the Attorney General to lead prosecutions in 13 defined categories, including cases involving law enforcement excessive force, crimes by elected officials, multi-county offenses, human trafficking, public assistance fraud, and certain wildlife violations. State's Attorneys may still handle these cases if they stipulate with the Attorney General, but without such agreement, the Attorney General takes primary responsibility. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDesignates AG as primary enforcer for excessive force, crimes by officials, and human trafficking cases, enhancing police accountability and oversight in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2025

H 346: An act relating to charges for towing and storage of motor vehicles belonging to crime victims

This bill sets maximum fees for towing and storing abandoned vehicles in Vermont, capping towing at $130 or $4.50 per mile (whichever is greater) and storage at $35 per day. It directly affects crime victims by exempting them from paying towing and storage fees if they reported their stolen vehicle to law enforcement before it was towed, including fees accrued prior to seven days after a second notice to the owner. The bill also creates a working group of state officials to study funding mechanisms for reimbursing towing services when they cannot collect fees for stolen vehicles. The group must report by November 15, 2025, with recommendations for legislative action.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExempts crime victims from towing/storage fees when reporting theft to police, reducing financial burden and supporting victim rights in criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 19, 2025

H 258: An act relating to law enforcement interrogation policies

H 258 prohibits law enforcement from using deception, threats, or physical harm during custodial interrogations of individuals under 22 years old. It requires notifying and contacting a juvenile’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian before any such interrogation. The bill also mandates the Vermont Criminal Justice Council to create statewide interrogation standards, including requiring electronic recording of most custodial interrogations in detention (with limited exceptions like emergencies). These changes aim to prevent false confessions and improve community trust in law enforcement practices.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits coercion in juvenile interrogations, mandates parent notification, and requires electronic recording - aligning with civil rights protection and police accountability in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Mar 13, 2025

S 120: An act relating to funding support services for persons who use drugs and eliminating misdemeanor criminal penalties for possessing or dispensing a personal use drug supply

S 120 creates the Community Care, Health, and Safety Special Fund using 40% of cannabis tax revenue and opioid settlement funds to support community harm reduction services for people with substance use disorder. It eliminates misdemeanor penalties for possessing or dispensing small personal amounts of drugs, instead requiring law enforcement to provide service referrals and health assessments. The bill establishes a Drug Use Health and Safety Advisory Board to define "personal use" quantities and prioritize health services over criminal penalties. This policy shift aims to reduce overdose deaths by redirecting resources from prosecution toward evidence-based harm reduction and treatment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects 40% of cannabis tax revenue to fund harm reduction services, advancing public health spending via dedicated tax allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEliminates misdemeanor drug possession penalties, replaces with health referrals/funding harm reduction - direct criminal justice reform to reduce criminalization95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates cannabis tax and opioid funds to fund harm reduction services for substance use disorder, replacing criminal penalties with health referrals and assessments, directly advancing public health access.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Drug Policy Law Enforcement Substance Abuse

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Apr 9, 2025

S 148: An act relating to expanding good samaritan protections concerning immigration

This bill prohibits Vermont law enforcement agencies, officers, and their representatives from using state resources (including personnel, equipment, or funds) to assist federal immigration authorities in civil or criminal immigration investigations or proceedings. It specifically applies to situations covered by existing Vermont laws protecting healthcare providers (12 V.S.A. § 7306) and overdose reporting (18 V.S.A. § 4254), expanding those "good Samaritan" protections to immigration contexts. Exceptions allow cooperation when responding to a valid judicial warrant or investigating a crime unrelated to immigration enforcement. The law directly affects Vermont police and sheriff's departments by restricting their collaboration with federal immigration agencies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts state law enforcement from aiding federal immigration enforcement, protecting civil rights and reducing state overreach in criminal justice context.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits Vermont law enforcement from using state resources to assist federal immigration enforcement, expanding protections to immigrants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Feb 26, 2025

S 90: An act relating to employee privacy protections

This Vermont bill (S 90) prohibits most employers from using credit checks, criminal history inquiries, or drug testing for hiring or employment decisions unless the information has a direct relationship to the specific job duties. It exempts certain roles like financial positions, law enforcement, and jobs involving financial fiduciary responsibilities, but requires employers to demonstrate the direct job connection. The bill also bans retaliation against employees who report violations and imposes civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation for noncompliance. It directly affects all Vermont employers and job applicants by restricting common pre-employment screenings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts employer use of criminal history in hiring, reducing barriers for reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals like reducing recidivism.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits invasive employer practices (credit checks, criminal history) that can discriminate, protecting worker privacy and rights with anti-retaliation measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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signed · Vermont · Senate Jun 13, 2025

S 109: An act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures

This bill amends multiple Vermont statutes to adjust court procedures and criminal justice policies. It creates an adult court diversion program allowing prosecutors to refer eligible defendants (post-charge, with court probable cause) to restorative options instead of prosecution, while expanding the definition of "victim" to include family members and certain professionals. Key provisions include restricting public internet access to court records (allowing limited access for attorneys and law enforcement), adding a $100 surcharge for criminal cases to fund investigative units, and establishing automatic expungement for certain switchblade knife convictions prior to July 2025. These changes directly affect courts, prosecutors, defendants, victims, and law enforcement agencies. The bill is now law after being signed by the governor on June 12, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates diversion program for restorative justice, reducing prosecution and supporting reform goals like rehabilitation and victim inclusion.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement