H.872 mandates minimum prison sentences for repeat violent offenders in Vermont. It requires a minimum sentence of half the maximum term (up to life) for anyone convicted of a third violent felony - defined as a felony with violence against a person - after two prior such convictions. The bill prohibits suspended sentences, probation, parole, or early release for the first three years of this mandatory term. It also amends sentencing rules to ban suspended sentences for all violent felony convictions, not just repeat offenders. This bill directly affects individuals with multiple violent felony convictions, changing their sentencing outcomes under Vermont law.
H 635 eliminates a $30 monthly supervisory fee previously charged to individuals on probation, furlough, supervised community sentences, or parole in Vermont. The bill prohibits the Department of Corrections from assessing, collecting, or pursuing outstanding fees, including through wage garnishment or tax offsets. It requires the department to forgive all existing fees, remove fee references from records, and stop all collection efforts. Failure to pay this fee will no longer be considered a violation of supervision terms.
This bill adopts recommendations from Vermont's Post-Adjudication Reparative Program Working Group. It creates a formal process for courts to refer nonviolent offenders (those convicted of nonviolent felonies, misdemeanors, or specific nonviolent misdemeanors) to community reparative boards instead of traditional sentencing or probation. Key provisions include requiring courts to consider victim input and community impact before referral, mandating standardized referral forms, and specifying that successful program completion avoids further sentencing while failure requires returning to court. The law applies to eligible cases starting July 1, 2026, directly affecting nonviolent offenders in Vermont's criminal justice system.
S.237 restructures Vermont's Parole Board by establishing a five-member board (one full-time chair and four members) with new staffing requirements, including a staff attorney and additional administrative support. It mandates annual training for board members on topics like criminogenic behavior and trauma-informed practices, requires the board to submit its budget directly to the Governor, and sets new parole eligibility rules: offenders must have no pending criminal charges to qualify. The bill also clarifies victims’ rights to receive notification of parole hearings, testify, and receive the board’s decision, while allowing parolees to voluntarily relinquish parole status or benefit from earned time. These changes directly affect parole board operations, incarcerated individuals seeking release, crime victims, and parolees.
This bill (S.181) eliminates the requirement for a presentence investigation report to be filed before a Vermont court can impose a deferred sentence. It directly affects defendants eligible for deferred sentencing under Vermont law, removing a procedural step that currently must be completed before a judge can place someone on probation instead of imposing an immediate sentence. The amendment revises 13 V.S.A. § 7041 to remove the requirement for the court to order a presentence investigation, while maintaining other conditions like victim impact statements and court review of available information. The change takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not apply to certain serious sex offenses against children.
H 540 adopts recommendations from Vermont's Post-Adjudication Reparative Program Working Group to create a structured alternative to traditional sentencing for certain nonviolent offenses. The bill allows courts to refer nonviolent felony, misdemeanor, or nonviolent misdemeanor offenders (who pled guilty) to community reparative boards instead of probation, requiring the offender to complete the program or return to court for further sentencing. Key provisions include mandatory court consideration of victim input, community impact, offender willingness, and standardized referral forms for all courts. This directly affects nonviolent offenders and community reparative boards, shifting focus toward restorative practices rather than standard probation. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2026.
H.642 modifies Vermont's youthful offender proceedings to strengthen court considerations and protections. It requires courts to specifically evaluate whether a youth has acknowledged causing harm (§ 5284(a)(11)) when deciding if public safety allows youthful offender treatment. The bill also mandates revoking youthful offender status if a youth on probation is charged with a violent crime (unless public safety is protected) or fails to attend a probation hearing without valid reason. Additionally, it clarifies victims' right to attend and speak at key hearings. This bill directly affects youth aged 12-18 facing charges, courts making disposition decisions, and the Departments of Children and Families and Corrections responsible for supervision.
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.
This Vermont bill (H 559) changes the Parole Board structure by increasing its size from five regular members (plus two alternates) to seven regular members and adding specific training requirements for all members. It mandates annual training on topics like mental health, substance use treatment, and trauma-informed victim work, and creates a new Parole Board Director position appointed by the Governor to oversee board operations. The bill also updates member qualifications to require expertise in areas such as criminogenic behavior or serious crime rehabilitation, directly affecting how parole decisions are made and administered.
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.
