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

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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