Citizen Portal News Vermont

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4 days ago

Formerly incarcerated Kalani Gagne tells Senate committee of abuse, urges stricter vetting under H.550 At an April 7 Senate Committee on Institutions hearing on H.550, witness Kalani Gagne recounted transfers to out-of-state prisons, alleged staff harassment and uninvestigated PREA complaints, and urged clearer clinical vetting and mandated reporting to protect transgender and cisgender people in custody.

Kalani Gagne's harrowing testimony reveals the shocking abuse and neglect faced by incarcerated individuals in Vermont, urging lawmakers to take a stand for justice and accountability.

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#VT #CivicAccountability #PrisonReform #CitizenPortal #GenderEquity #VermontCorrections

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5 days ago

Committee debates rewrite of 'earned time' rules, members split over safety, victims, and administrative burden A proposed amendment to replace the state's 'earned time' provision drew a prolonged debate: supporters described earned time as an incentive management tool for DOC, while critics warned of added administrative burden, victims' concerns, and potential effects on facility safety. Several members requested more testimony before acting.

The House of Regents Institutions Committee is at a crossroads, debating a contentious amendment to 'earned time' rules that could reshape rehabilitation incentives and impact victims' rights.

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#VT #CitizenPortal #VermontCorrections #VictimSafety #AdministrativeBurden

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1 week ago

Committee hears legal risks and reporting obligations in H.550 PREA proposal H.550 would authorize Vermont's Department of Corrections to adopt federal PREA standards into state law and require certain PREA reporting and reviews. Legislative counsel briefed the committee on federal enforcement changes, recent California litigation, and DOJ pattern/practice inquiries.

Vermont's Senate Institutions Committee is poised to take a significant step toward enhancing prison safety by considering a bill that aligns state law with federal protections against sexual assault in corrections facilities.

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#VT #PrisonReform #CitizenPortal #VermontCorrections

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1 month ago

Vermont DOC budget hearing highlights staffing shortfalls, rising overtime and hospital costs Interim Commissioner John Murad told the Institutions Committee that DOC’s FY27 budget faces high overtime and vacancy-driven costs: total staffing is roughly $88 million, with regular pay ~ $70 million and facility regular pay ~ $37 million; DOC reported a roughly 12.8% vacancy rate and high facility overtime that it said drives travel and hospital-staffing expenses.

Vermont's Department of Corrections is grappling with a staggering 12.8% vacancy rate, leading to skyrocketing staffing costs and reliance on overtime that could impact the safety and effectiveness of the system.

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#VT #CitizenPortal #WorkplaceWellness #VermontCorrections

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1 month ago

House Corrections Committee advances H.549 with DMV language left intact The House Corrections & Institutions Committee voted to advance H.549 (Draft 4.1, strike-all), preserving the committee's language on non-driver ID cards and DMV procedures for incarcerated people; staff will send the finalized draft and vote record to the clerk and courts office.

The House Corrections Committee has taken a significant step by advancing H.549, ensuring that non-driver ID cards and DMV procedures for incarcerated individuals remain unchanged.

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#VT #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #AccessToIDs #VermontCorrections

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1 month ago

Committee drafts letter asking DOC and VAP to negotiate MOU to improve legal and translation access for ICE detainees The House Committee on Corrections and Institutions agreed to send a committee letter of intent asking DOC and VAP to develop a memorandum of understanding ensuring ICE detainees have access to legal representation and language interpretation; the MOU timeline calls for finalization by March 16, interim updates beginning the week of March 23, and a joint evaluation report by April 15.

The House Committee on Corrections is taking bold steps to ensure ICE detainees have reliable access to legal aid and translation services—will they succeed in enforcing change by April?

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#VT #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #LegalAccess #VermontCorrections

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1 month ago

Committee refines H.559 language to create parole-board legal-counsel pilot; funding questions remain The House Corrections and Institutions Committee reviewed draft language for H.559 to create a parole-board legal-counsel pilot to provide annual training and on-call legal advice; members agreed the AGO, parole board and Agency of Human Services should coordinate contracting but debated whether $25,000 is sufficient and whether to seek $50,000–$75,000 in additional funds.

Vermont's House Corrections Committee is pushing for a new parole board legal counsel pilot, but will $25,000 really be enough to ensure due process and public safety?

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#VT #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #VermontCorrections #LegalSupport #ParoleReform

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1 month ago

House Corrections and Institutions directs DOC study after debate over free inmate calls in H.294 The House Corrections and Institutions committee on Feb. 25 considered H.294, which would require telephone, video and other communications services for incarcerated people be provided "at no expense" to them or to their callers. Lawmakers voiced support for connections that may reduce recidivism but raised cost, cap and funding concerns and asked the Department of Corrections to produce a detailed evaluation.

Vermont lawmakers are debating a groundbreaking bill that could make communication for incarcerated individuals completely free, but concerns about costs and funding are raising eyebrows.

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#VT #RecidivismReduction #CitizenPortal #VermontCorrections #TelecomAccessibility

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1 month ago

Panel finds favorable bill to end DOC supervisory fees, forgive outstanding balances The committee found H635 favorable after testimony from Legislative Council, JFO and the Department of Corrections; the bill removes DOC’s authority to impose supervisory fees, requires forgiveness of outstanding balances and directs DOC to cease collection activities, with an amended effective date of July 1, 2027.

Vermont's Ways & Means committee just voted to eliminate the Department of Corrections' supervisory fees, paving the way for the forgiveness of millions in outstanding debts!

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#VT #CivicAccountability #FiscalReform #CitizenPortal #VermontCorrections #DebtForgiveness

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1 month ago

Committee adds $200,000 for pretrial supervision positions amid questions about uptake The committee approved a $200,000 increase tied to seven pretrial supervision positions but members asked staff to provide evaluation materials after one representative cited a news report suggesting low program uptake and uneven effectiveness.

Vermont's committee just boosted funding for pretrial supervision, but concerns about the program's effectiveness are raising eyebrows!

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#VT #CitizenPortal #CommunitySafety #ProgramEvaluation #VermontCorrections #CriminalJustice

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1 month ago

House committee reviews H.B. 550 and DOCpractices on gender identity, housing and health care At a Feb. 18 House Corrections and Institutions Committee briefing on H.B. 550, Department of Corrections officials and contracted medical staff described a decade of policy evolution on gender identity, training, individualized housing plans and responses to out-of-state placement concerns, while committee members pressed on safety, enforcement and federal PREA audit changes.

Vermont's Department of Corrections is paving the way for gender equity in prisons, but how will new policies impact safety and care for transgender individuals?

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#VT #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #GenderEquity #HealthCareAccess #VermontCorrections

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1 month ago

Committee reviews H.549 draft to give DOC role in gathering ID documents and expand zero‑fee credentials for incarcerated and detained people The House Corrections & Institutions Committee on Feb. 17 reviewed draft H.549 (1.2), which would require the Department of Corrections to collect documentation and coordinate with the Department of Motor Vehicles so people sentenced or detained six months or more can obtain non‑driver IDs, replacement driver licenses (if expired ≤3 years) and replacement learner permits (if expired ≤2 years); DMV said basic credentials would be issued at no cost and the bill proposes staggered effective dates to allow implementation.

A new bill could transform re-entry for incarcerated individuals by ensuring they receive essential identification and driving credentials before their release.

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#VT #CivicAccountability #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal #IdentificationAccess #VermontCorrections

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1 month ago

Lawmakers press DOC on health‑care contract, MOUD and the license‑plate work program Committee members asked DOC for a breakdown of the WellPath health contract (including MOUD and ER costs) and scrutinized the small license‑plate offender work program after a budget projection flagged an unexpected payroll/fringe jump.

Vermont lawmakers are demanding transparency on correctional health-care spending amidst rising costs and a surprising payroll jump for the license-plate work program.

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#VT #IncarcerationReform #CitizenPortal #HealthcareAccountability #VermontCorrections #BudgetTransparency

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1 month ago

Rising detainee population — and a surge in women detainees — strain Vermont facilities Committee members heard that detainee counts have increased (653 detainees cited), female detainee numbers rose sharply at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility, and about 150 people remain in out‑of‑state placement under a CoreCivic contract; lawmakers pressed for data and contingency planning.

Vermont's correctional facilities are facing unprecedented pressure as the female detainee population surges by 44%, raising urgent concerns among lawmakers.

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#VT #DataTransparency #CitizenPortal #VermontCorrections #CriminalJustice #WomenIncarceration

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1 month ago

Committee refines H.549 to speed IDs for people leaving custody, delays detainee expansion The House Corrections & Institutions committee agreed to tighten H.549’s language so DOC and DMV coordinate to provide non‑driver IDs and, when eligible, driver credentials to people leaving custody; members removed detainees from the immediate expansion for logistical and IT reasons and asked counsel to redraft.

Vermont's House committee is streamlining ID issuance for those leaving custody, but will detainees have to wait for their turn?

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#VT #IDAccessibility #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal #VermontCorrections #CriminalJusticeReform

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1 month ago

House committee grills corrections leaders on budget as staffing and health costs rise Lawmakers pressed the interim commissioner and finance staff over the Department of Corrections' $244 million operating budget, citing persistent vacancies, heavy overtime, rising health‑care costs and thin margins that limit options for program expansion.

Vermont lawmakers are demanding answers as the Department of Corrections faces a staggering 20% vacancy rate for frontline officers amidst a $244 million budget squeeze!

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#VT #HealthCareCosts #CitizenPortal #VermontCorrections #StaffingChallenges #BudgetTransparency

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2 months ago

House committee advances repeal of DOC supervisory-fee authority, delays effective date to July 2027 The House Corrections & Institutions Committee advanced H.635 to remove the Department of Corrections' authority to collect supervisory fees and voted unanimously on a committee amendment to delay the law's effective date to July 1, 2027, so DOC budget projections are preserved.

The House committee has taken a bold step to eliminate supervisory fees imposed by the Department of Corrections, but there's a catch: the changes won't take effect until July 2027!

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#VT #LegislativeReform #CitizenPortal #FiscalAccountability #VermontCorrections

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2 months ago

Senate Committee on Institutions votes 5-0 to recommend favorability on HB 790 (DOC BAA) The Senate Committee on Institutions voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend favorability on HB 790, sections B338 and B339, a FY2026 Department of Corrections budget adjustment appropriation, following testimony from the Department of Corrections; the committee adjourned afterward.

The Senate Committee on Institutions has just voted unanimously to push forward a crucial budget adjustment for the Department of Corrections, paving the way for significant changes in 2026!

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#VT #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #VermontCorrections #GovernmentTransparency

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2 months ago

DOC officials brief committee on inmate tablets, phone service and projected costs Department of Corrections staff told the Corrections & Institutions committee that the vendor contract for inmate tablets and telephony is structured at no direct cost to the state and is funded through service charges to incarcerated individuals; DOC provided recent usage statistics and estimated an annual cost of about $405,284 to absorb phone and video fees statewide.

Vermont's Department of Corrections reveals a controversial contract that provides tablets and phone services to inmates at no upfront cost to the state, but raises serious questions about privacy and funding.

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#VT #CitizenPortal #TelephonyServices #VermontCorrections

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2 months ago

Committee reviews statutory recidivism definition as Judiciary weighs broader measure Legal counsel told the Corrections & Institutions Committee that Title 28’s 2013 statutory recidivism formula (used by DOC for program-evaluation calculations) is complex; House Judiciary’s H.410 would replace it with a broader, simpler definition to support data collection, and the committee requested Crime Research Group and DOC testimony before changing statute.

Vermont's House Judiciary is considering a major shift in how recidivism is defined, potentially impacting everything from program evaluations to sentencing guidelines.

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#VT #DataCollection #CitizenPortal #VermontCorrections #RecidivismReform #CriminalJustice

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2 months ago

House Corrections and Institutions Committee hears UVM findings on H.294, including state cost models and provider complaints University of Vermont Legislative Research Service students told the House Corrections and Institutions Committee that state-funded, no-cost prison telecommunications has reduced recidivism in other states but carries initial cost spikes; presenters also flagged complaints and a lawsuit involving Vermont’s provider, IC Solutions.

A new bill in Vermont could transform prison communications, potentially slashing recidivism rates by 13%—but it comes with significant costs and serious complaints against the current provider.

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#VT #CivicAccountability #RecidivismReduction #CitizenPortal #VermontCorrections

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2 months ago

Formerly incarcerated witness tells Corrections committee out-of-state placements and abuse shape gender-equity concerns in prisons A formerly incarcerated Burlington resident told the House Corrections & Institutions Committee that out-of-state placements, staff misgendering and failures to report sexual assaults left her unsafe; she urged licensed professional vetting, oversight and training as lawmakers consider gender-equity provisions in HB 550.

A formerly incarcerated woman detailed the harrowing treatment she endured in out-of-state prisons, highlighting the urgent need for gender-equity reforms in Vermont's correctional system.

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#VT #PrisonReform #CitizenPortal #GenderEquity #VermontCorrections #MentalHealth

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2 months ago

Limited internet access in correctional facilities is holding back innovation and efficiency, with a $3.28 million Wi-Fi installation proposal now on the table.

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#VT #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #TechnologyAccess #VermontCorrections #DigitalEquity

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2 months ago

Committee questions value of supervisory fees as DOC data show low recovery, asks for budget impact The House Corrections and Institutions Committee heard DOC testimony on H.B. 635, which would repeal supervisory fees and forgive outstanding balances; DOC reported 9,879 individuals met tax‑offset submission thresholds in FY25 and about $3.5 million in accumulated fee debt, but annual net collections have fallen and the committee asked for a fiscal impact analysis before acting.

The House Corrections and Institutions Committee is debating H.B. 635, a bill that could eliminate supervisory fees, potentially freeing nearly 10,000 individuals from the burden of crippling debt.

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#VT #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #VermontCorrections

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2 months ago

Committee hears security, PREA and door-control upgrades for corrections facilities BGS and DOC officials outlined system-wide security work — cameras, door controls, fencing and suicide-abatement measures — and described how those items fit with PREA compliance and accessible-cell renovations across multiple facilities.

Vermont's correctional facilities are set to undergo crucial safety upgrades, including advanced surveillance and suicide-prevention measures, to ensure compliance and enhance security.

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#VT #FacilityUpgrades #CrisisIntervention #PublicSafety #VermontCorrections #CitizenPortal

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2 months ago

Retired corrections lieutenant warns committee of staffing shortages and overcrowding A retired lieutenant told the committee that shortages and overtime leave corrections units understaffed; he said one facility built for 96 inmates is now holding more than 150, creating unsafe working conditions and elevated suicide risk among staff and inmates.

A retired corrections lieutenant reveals alarming staffing shortages and overcrowding in Vermont's correctional facilities, warning that safety is at risk and the mental health of staff is deteriorating.

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#VT #WorkforceNeed #MentalHealth #PublicSafety #VermontCorrections

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2 months ago

Vermont Department of Corrections outlines FY2027 budget, flags staffing, women’s facility crowding and rising health costs The Vermont Department of Corrections presented a $244.1 million FY2027 budget to the Health Appropriations Committee, highlighting staff vacancies (about 13% overall; roughly 20% for correctional officers), a crowded women’s facility (172 inmates vs. ~177 capacity), a $44 million annualized health contract, and rollout of a Medicaid reentry (1115) waiver.

Vermont's proposed FY2027 budget reveals alarming staffing shortages and overcrowding in women's facilities, raising urgent concerns for the future of corrections.

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#VT #CriminalJusticeReform #HealthCareCosts #PublicSafety #VermontCorrections #CitizenPortal

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2 months ago

House committee reviews bill to end DOC supervisory fees, seeks cost and collection details The House Corrections & Institutions committee examined H.635, a bill to repeal Department of Corrections supervisory-fee authority, forgive outstanding supervisory fees, and remove references across DOC systems. DOC told the committee it charges $15/month, collects limited revenue, and the committee asked DOC for staff-cost and collection-breakdown follow-up.

A groundbreaking bill could wipe out supervisory fees for thousands in Vermont's correctional system, sparking a debate on cost-effectiveness and fairness.

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#VT #CriminalJusticeReform #FinancialTransparency #VermontCorrections #CitizenPortal #CivicAccountability

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2 months ago

House Corrections committee presses DOC contractors on $8 million billing spike Committee members said a roughly $8 million request from contracted provider Wellpack/Wellpath reflects both late invoices (~$3M) and staffing-related contract amendments (~$4M); members asked DOC and budget staff to return with invoice detail, original contract terms, and population-based billing calculations.

Vermont's House Corrections Committee is demanding answers behind an unexpected $8 million billing spike tied to delayed invoices and rising staffing costs—what's really going on?

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#VT #ContractTransparency #BudgetAccountability #VermontCorrections #CitizenPortal

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2 months ago

Corrections & Institutions committee maps priorities: telecoms, commissary, supervision fees and DOC report extension At a late-afternoon Corrections & Institutions committee meeting, members reviewed unfinished bills from the prior session and four new bills, agreed to reconvene subcommittees on commissary and telecommunications, and granted DOC an extension to Feb. 1 to complete a report on converting Saint Johnsbury Correctional Facility into a treatment facility.

The Corrections & Institutions committee is gearing up to tackle pressing issues from last session while exploring new legislation that could transform Vermont's correctional landscape.

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#VT #RestorativeJustice #TelecommunicationsReform #VermontCorrections #CitizenPortal