Deputy defender general urges two‑year delay to include 19‑year‑olds; supports sections 1–9 and 14 of H.2

Marshall Paul, deputy defender general and chief juvenile defender with the Office of the Defender General, told the Judiciary committee during testimony on H.2 that his office “support[s] sections 1 through 9 and 14, and we don't support the other sections.” He said the supported sections delay or adjust the planned expansion that would bring 19‑year‑olds under juvenile jurisdiction and raise the minimum age for certain charges.

Why it matters: Paul said the state’s capacity problems and gaps in data after the pandemic make the April implementation date for adding 19‑year‑olds impractical. He argued a delay would allow Vermont to restore residential and treatment capacity and gather better outcome data before enlarging the juvenile system.

Paul urged the committee to approve section 1, which he said “raises the minimum age to 12 from 10,” noting from his work as a juvenile defense attorney that he could “count them on 1 hand, the number of 10 year olds I've represented, and not a single 1 of them has been found competent by the court.” He added that competency evaluations…