House Corrections and Institutions reviews new pretrial supervision program; pilot in Essex and Orleans counties

The House Corrections and Institutions committee heard a briefing Thursday on a new pretrial supervision program created by legislation enacted last year and now beginning as a limited pilot in Essex and Orleans counties.

Committee members were told the program, added to Vermont’s bail law, lets a court order the Department of Corrections to supervise some defendants in the community before conviction. Ben Domagrovsky of the Office of Legislative Council described the change as “one of the conditions of release that was enacted last year,” and said the program is governed by 13 V.S.A. §7554 and §7555.

The program is court-ordered and administered by the Department of Corrections (DOC). DOC staff — primarily probation and parole officers in field offices — will recommend a supervision level to the court after conducting an assessment. The committee heard that supervision can range from automated telephonic reminders to regular phone or in-person check-ins and, for some cases, electronic monitoring such as ankle bracelets.

Under the statute, eligibility includes defendants accused of criminal contempt under 13 V.S.A. §7559 or defendants with five or more pending dockets; placement still requires a court decision based on an…