State of Vermont Archives: on Crime
Becca Balint:
Address racial disparities in criminal justice
Gov. Scott signed legislation to spotlight and advance racial justice reforms. H.308 aims to address racial disparities in the criminal and juvenile justice system.The newly signed law creates an advisory panel charged with providing recommendations
to address racial disparities in statewide criminal and juvenile justice. Further, it drives the development of a strategy to address racial disparities within state systems of education, labor and employment, access to housing and healthcare, and
economic development, and requires review of the model Fair & Impartial Policing Policy.
"I am proud to sign this bill into law, taking a step forward in addressing larger systemic issues around disparate racial impact and implicit bias, and I thank
those who contributed to its passage," said Gov. Scott. "While there is much more work to be done, Vermont is yet again demonstrating our commitment to working towards more equitable, fair & just practices and system reforms." [Sen. Balint voted YES].
Source: Press Release on Vermont voting record on H.308
May 31, 2017
Brooke Paige:
Establish uniform sentencing and incarceration guidelines
Brief Outline of the Issues: Law and Order - Develop Effective Protections for spousal and child abuse victims.
- Work to Prevent Judicial Activism.
- Establish Uniform Sentencing and Incarceration Guidelines.
- Investigate and Prosecute Fraud and Corruption in State Government.
- Increase Law Enforcement efforts to reduce drug trafficking.
- Legalize and Commercialize Marijuana
Source: 2018 Vermont Senate campaign website BrookePaige.us
Aug 14, 2018
Christine Hallquist:
Address racial bias in criminal justice system
Hallquist campaigned on a promise to build up renewable energy and boost the state's rural economy by expanding broadband access. Backed by the Justice Democrats, the same group that helped launch Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign in New York,
along with the Working Families Party and Trans United Fund, Hallquist supports "Medicare for all," raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and has pledged to address racial disparities in the state's criminal justice system.
Source: CNN on 2018 Vermont gubernatorial race
Aug 15, 2018
David Zuckerman:
Alternatives to incarceration; no death penalty
Q: Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?No.
Q: Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
Yes.
Q: Should a minor accused of a
violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
No.
Q: Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?
No.
Q: Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
Yes.
Source: Vote Smart Vermont State 2014 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2014
David Zuckerman:
We need an extensive and systemic collection of racial data
Our criminal justice system unfairly and disproportionately lands more black and brown Vermonters in prison than others. Without publicly available data, we face significant challenges to addressing disparities and advancing meaningful reforms.
That is why we need an extensive and systemic collection of racial data about everything from school suspensions to police use of force, along with traffic stops and all court processes, to address disparities and advance meaningful reforms.
Source: 2020 Vermont governor campaign website ZuckermanForVT.com
Apr 3, 2020
David Zuckerman:
Reduce the need for police intervention
Zuckerman says the state should tackle the root of diversity at its root. "Making sure we invest in opportunities that reduce the need for police intervention by having more mental
health councilors and investing in more affordable housing and providing more economic opportunities for Vermonters," said Zuckerman.
Source: WCAX-TV CBS-3 on 2020 Vermont Gubernatorial debate
Oct 8, 2020
Gerald Malloy:
Fund our Police; preserve order to enjoy freedoms
Fully support Law Enforcement.
Funding, not Defunding, our Police; preserving order to enjoy freedoms.
Source: 2022 Vermont Senate campaign website DeployMalloy.com
Aug 16, 2022
Jim Douglas:
Mandatory 25 year minimum sentence for child sexual abuse
Governor Jim Douglas today signed S.13, An Act Relating to Improving Vermont's Sexual Abuse Response System, in to law. S.13 is a sweeping piece of legislation that strengthens Vermont's response to sexual violence against children in all areas.
"There is no more valuable resource than our children and it is our responsibility to do all we can to keep them safe in their communities," Governor Douglas said. "I am proud to say that this bill does make Vermont an even safer place for our kids,"
he continued.
S.13 provides law enforcement, the courts, communities and families with improved tools, more options and better resources to keep our children safe. It provides a mandatory 25 year minimum sentence for those who commit the worst acts of
sexual violence against a child, as well as greater information for parents, educators and others to identify and deal cases of sexual abuse. S.13 also provides additional resources for the Special Investigation Units throughout the state.
Source: Governor's press release on Vermont S.13 voting record
Mar 4, 2009
Keith Stern:
Convicts should serve in same state where sentenced
Each state is its own COUNTRY, to be sent to another country to serve one's sentence would be Unconstitutional. It is not Constitutional for one to be sentenced BY THEIR PEERS in one Sovereign State and then have the sentence carried out in another
Sovereign State where there are NO PEERS. Then why is it acceptable for a person to be sentenced in Vermont and incarcerated in Pennsylvania or any other State? Each State is exactly the same as a Country and the words are interchangeable.
Source: 2018 VT Gubernatorial campaign website VermontGetsStern.org
Sep 18, 2018
Matt Dunne:
More prisons, but more rehab programs too
Dunne indicated support for the following principles to address crime.- Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and
job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- Ban the use of racial profiling by law enforcement officers.
- Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
Source: Vermont Congressional 2002 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2002
Patrick Leahy:
Worked to reverse some of mandatory minimum sentences
Leahy often points to his service as Chittenden County State's Attorney as his guidepost for his legislative initiatives on the Judiciary Committee. He champions the needs of crime and domestic violence victims. He co-authored the Bulletproof
Vest grant program which has helped purchase 4,400 life-saving vests for local law enforcement officers throughout Vermont since 1999. He supports state and local law enforcement through Community Oriented Policing Services and Homeland Security grants.
Leahy knows the criminal sentencing system needs repair to restore fairness and reduce overcrowding in prisons. He joined a group of bipartisan senators on sentencing reform legislation that will reverse
some of the misguided mandatory minimums passed during the "War on Drugs" in the 1980s and 1990s.
Source: 2021 Vermont Senate campaign website LeahyForVermont.com
Jun 22, 2021
Peter Shumlin:
Help keep non-violent offenders out of jail.
A decade ago we spent $71 million on our corrections system. Today, we spend almost $131 million. On any given day, of the 2,100 prisoners that taxpayers are currently supporting, 180 are in prison because they have no other place to go. 69% of our femal
inmates and 45% of our male inmates are non-violent offenders. What do we know about these non-violent offenders? Many of them have difficulty reading and writing, and most have drug and alcohol related addictions. When their time is up, a lack of adult
basic education, drug and alcohol counseling, mental health services and job options leave them on our Main Streets with the same lack of skills and substance abuse challenges that led them into prison in the first place. As a result, half of our
non-violent offenders end up back in prison within three years.I ask the Legislature to join me in investing $1 million in prevention and alternative justice in community based programs across Vermont to help keep non-violent offenders out of jail.
Source: 2011 Vermont State of the State Address
Jan 25, 2011
Phil Scott:
Private prisons needed because full cost borne by state
The contrast between Minter and Scott was seen when asked if they would follow the U.S. Justice Department's recent call to phase out the use of private prisons. Vermont has about 250 inmates at a private prison in Michigan.
Minter said she would want to figure out a way to tackle the problem; Scott said his first goal would be not to increase costs. Minter said she would "explore phasing out the use of private prisons altogether by bringing together community leaders
to find more ways to continue reducing Vermont's recidivism rate and the number of non-violent offenders incarcerated."
Scott replied in part: "The cost of operating Vermont's prisons and corrections systems falls disproportionately onto state income
tax payers. There is virtually no federal money in the state corrections system." He said his administration would "conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis" before deciding whether to continue using private prisons.
Source: Valley News on 2016 Vermont Gubernatorial debate
Aug 28, 2016
Phil Scott:
Close Windsor prison; expand home detention monitoring
We've found commonsense adjustments in our corrections system. The correctional facility in Windsor has the highest per-capita costs of any male facility across the state. We have a plan to close it, and transfer each inmate. This move will save
$3.5 million.In addition, we will expand the State's Electronic Monitoring and Home Detention program using existing resources. Implementing 24/7 electronic monitoring statewide will reduce the out-of-state caseload.
Source: 2017 Vermont State of the State address
Jan 25, 2017
Phil Scott:
Address racial disparities in criminal justice
Gov. Scott signed legislation to spotlight and advance racial justice reforms in Vermont. The bill, H.308, aims to address racial disparities in the criminal and juvenile justice system.The newly signed law creates an advisory panel charged with
providing recommendations to address racial disparities in statewide criminal and juvenile justice. Further, it drives the development of a strategy to address racial disparities within state systems of education, labor and employment, access to housing
and healthcare, and economic development, and requires review of the model Fair and Impartial Policing Policy.
"I am proud to sign this bill into law, taking a step forward in addressing larger systemic issues around disparate racial impact and
implicit bias, and I thank those who contributed to its passage," said Gov. Scott. "While there is much more work to be done, Vermont is yet again demonstrating our commitment to working towards more equitable, fair & just practices and system reforms."
Source: Press Release on Vermont voting record on H.308
May 31, 2017
Rebecca Holcombe:
End racial disparities in Vermont's criminal justice system
I will ensure that criminal justice reform efforts are clearly supported and make an intentional effort to bring down
the prison population and end racial disparities in Vermont's criminal justice system.
Source: 2020 Vermont governor campaign website RebeccaHolcombe.com
Mar 26, 2020
Scott Milne:
Supports the death penalty
Q: Do you support the death penalty? Scott Milne: Yes
Q: Are you in favor of decriminalizing drug use?
Scott Milne: No, we should pass tougher drug laws
Source: iSideWith.com Voter Guide on 2016 Vermont Senate race
Sep 9, 2016
Sue Minter:
Phase out the use of private prisons altogether
The contrast between Minter and Scott was seen when asked if they would follow the U.S. Justice Department's recent call to phase out the use of private prisons. Vermont has about 250 inmates at a private prison in Michigan.
Minter said she would want to figure out a way to tackle the problem; Scott said his first goal would be not to increase costs. Minter said she would "explore phasing out the use of private prisons altogether by bringing together community leaders
to find more ways to continue reducing Vermont's recidivism rate and the number of non-violent offenders incarcerated."
Scott replied in part: "The cost of operating Vermont's prisons and corrections systems falls disproportionately onto state income
tax payers. There is virtually no federal money in the state corrections system." He said his administration would "conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis" before deciding whether to continue using private prisons.
Source: Valley News on 2016 Vermont Gubernatorial debate
Aug 28, 2016
Phil Scott:
Consider strategies to fight crime besides justice reform
When those who victimize others are put back on the streets, hours after being apprehended only to reoffend again and again, Vermonters question law enforcement. We've made progress on justice reform and treating addiction as the public health
crisis it is. But when spiking crime rates make it clear that not all the changes have been effective, we have a responsibility to take a step back and consider other strategies.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature
Jan 4, 2024
Phil Scott:
Consider strategies to fight crime besides justice reform
When those who victimize others are put back on the streets, hours after being apprehended only to reoffend again and again, Vermonters question law enforcement. We've made progress on justice reform and treating addiction as the public health
crisis it is. But when spiking crime rates make it clear that not all the changes have been effective, we have a responsibility to take a step back and consider other strategies.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature
Jan 4, 2024
Rebecca Holcombe:
Community review boards for police use-of-force incidents
Rebecca Holcombe- Expand race data collection across government sectors, to identify bias and assess its impact. The data will inform policy action.
- Implement widespread bias training for state employees.
- Supports an increased role for
community review boards in assessing use-of-force incidents involving police.
Brenda Siegel
- Wants Vermont to implement hate speech laws informed by an Illinois Supreme Court verdict -- libelous speech against a racial group is not protected by
free speech and can be prosecuted.
Scott Milne
- Doesn't support any specific policies that relate to racial justice.
David Zuckerman
- Supports bias training for all educators, state employees and law enforcement.
Phil Scott
- Wants to continue ongoing racial justice efforts.
- Looks forward to reviewing recommendations from a Racial Equity Task Force, which he created earlier this year.
Source: VT Digger on 2020 Vermont Gubernatorial race
Jul 30, 2020
Bernie Sanders:
I support police reform; not "defunding the police"
Q: A lot of people in the progressive movement now are calling for defunding or abolishing the police. A: Do I think we should not have police departments in America? No, I don't. There's no city in the world that does not have police departments.
And, too often around this country right now, you have police officers who take the job at very low payment, don't have much education, don't have much training--and I want to change that.
Q: So what should be done?
A: I think we want to redefine what police departments do, give them the support they need to make their jobs better defined.
So I do believe that we need well-trained, well-educated, and well-paid professionals in police departments. Anyone who thinks that we should abolish all police departments in America, I don't agree.
Source: New Yorker magazine on 2024 Vermont Senate race
Jul 19, 2023
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026