Act No. 40 Page 1 of 1
2023
This act summary is provided for the convenience of the public and members of the General Assembly. It
is intended to provide a general summary of the act and may not be exhaustive. It has been prepared by the
staff of the Office of Legislative Counsel without input from members of the General Assembly. It is not
intended to aid in the interpretation of legislation or to serve as a source of legislative intent.
Act No. 40 (S. 14). An act relating to a report on criminal justice-related investments and
trends
Subjects: Corrections; judiciary; justice reinvestment
This act requires reports on Vermont’s criminal justice-related investments and trends
to assist in the systemic assessment of the State’s Justice Reinvestment and criminal
justice reform efforts and initiative to inform future legislative policy and fiscal
decisions. Specifically, the Vermont Statistical Analysis Center is required to consult
with the Department of Corrections, the Office of the Attorney General, the Department
for Children and Families, and other stakeholders to author a report every three years
outlining various data points concerning the State’s criminal justice system, including
recidivism rates, evidence of desistance, funding for correctional and restorative services,
and demographic data, among others. The report is submitted to the Joint Legislative
Justice Oversight Committee, the Senate Committees on Appropriations and on Judiciary,
the House Committees on Appropriations, on Judiciary, and on Corrections and
Institutions, and the Executive Director of the Office of Racial Equity.
This act also creates the Coordinated Justice Reform Advisory Council to establish a
unified and collaborative approach to support State and local community-based programs
that are consistent with Vermont’s restorative justice policy under 28 V.S.A. § 2a. The
Council consults with stakeholders to review and provide data-driven recommendations
for the priorities and appropriations necessary to support these programs annually. The
Commissioner of Corrections must incorporate the Council’s recommendations into the
Department of Corrections’ budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. The Council’s
recommendations are also provided to the Joint Legislative Justice Oversight Committee,
the Senate Committees on Appropriations and on Judiciary, and the House Committees
on Appropriations, on Judiciary, and on Corrections and Institutions.
Effective Date: Multiple effective dates, beginning on June 1, 2023
VT LEG #370993 v.2
Statutes affected: As Introduced: 28-125
As Passed By the Senate -- Official: 28-125
As Passed By the Senate -- Unofficial: 28-125
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 28-125, 28-102(c), 28-102
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 28-125, 28-102(c), 28-102
As Enacted: 28-125, 28-102(c), 28-102