Phil Scott on Crime

	Phil Scott on Crime

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

Consider strategies to fight crime besides justice reform

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

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

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

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*Other governors on Crime:*			*Phil Scott on other issues:*
*VT Gubernatorial:* Brenda Siegel Esther Charlestin Peter Duval Scott Milne *VT Senatorial:* Bernie Sanders Gerald Malloy Peter Welch	*Gubernatorial Debates 2023:* KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D) vs.State A.G. Daniel Cameron(R) vs.Ambassador Kelly Craft(R) vs.State Auditor Mike Harmon(R) LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited) vs.Jeff Landry(R) vs.Shawn Wilson(D) vs.John Schroder(R) vs.Sharon Hewitt(R) MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R) vs.Bill Waller(R,withdrew) vs.Brandon Presley(D) *Gubernatorial Debates 2024:* DE: Gov. John Carney (D, term-limited); vs. Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long (D) vs. County Exec. Matt Meyer (D) vs. State Rep.Mike Ramone (R) IN: Gov. Eric Holcomb (R, term-limited); vs. Sen. Mike Braun (R) vs. Suzanne Crouch (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Eric Doden (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Attorney General Curtis Hill (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Jennifer McCormick (D) MO: Gov. Mike Parson (R, term-limited): vs. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) vs. State Senator Bill Eigel (R) vs. Lt.Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) vs. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D) MT: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) vs. Ryan Busse (D) vs. State Rep. Tanner Smith (R, lost June 4 primary)	*Gubernatorial Debates 2024 (continued):* NC: Gov. Roy Cooper (D, term-limited); vs. Lt.Gov. Mark Robinson (R) vs. Attorney General Josh Stein (D) vs. Treasurer Dale Folwell (R, lost March 5 primary) vs. Justice Michael Morgan (D, lost March 5 primary) vs. State Senator Andy Wells (R,withdrew) ND: Gov. Doug Burgum (R, retiring) vs. State Rep. Rick Becker (R) vs. U.S.Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R) vs. State Sen.Merrill Piepkorn (D) NH: Gov. Chris Sununu (R, retiring) vs. U.S.Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) vs. Mayor Joyce Craig (D) vs. Acting Gov.Chuck Morse (R) vs. Exec.Councilor Cinde Warmington (D) UT: Gov. Spencer Cox (R) vs. State Rep. Phil Lyman (R) vs. Minority Leader Brian King (D) VT: Gov. Phil Scott (R) vs. Lt.Gov.David Zuckerman (D, withdrew) vs. Selectman Peter Duval (D) vs. Commissioner Esther Charlestin (D) WA: Gov. Jay Inslee (D, retiring); vs. Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) vs. U.S.Rep.Dave Reichert (R) vs. State Sen. Mark Mullet (D) vs. County Chair Semi Bird (R) vs. Hilary Franz (D, withdrew to run for U.S.Rep.) WV: Gov. Jim Justice (R, term-limited) vs. WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) vs. Huntington Mayor Steve Williams (D) vs. WV State Auditor JB McCuskey (R, withdrew) vs. WV Secretary of State Mac Warner (R, lost May 14 primary) vs. State Del. Moore Capito (R, lost May 14 primary)	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Local Issues Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]