Vermont AG outlines July 1 rollout, $1.75M funding need to implement Act 180 pre‑charge diversion

Willow Farrell, Court Diversion and Pretrial Services Director at the Vermont Attorney General’s Office, told the state Judiciary Committee on Jan. 17 that the office is preparing program manuals and a statewide plan to implement Act 180’s pre‑charge diversion provisions and expects a phased transition beginning July 1.

Farrell said the AGO will deliver a plan to the legislature by April 1 and has estimated a funding need of about $1,750,000 to maintain existing services and support statewide expansion. “July 1” was identified as the target implementation date; the office also asked the committee to include a dedicated AGO position in the Budget Adjustment Act to manage grants and program administration.

Act 180, passed last year and commonly described in testimony as the statute that codifies pre‑charge (direct referral) diversion, requires counties to publish state’s attorney policies on pre‑charge referrals, sets reporting expectations, and tasks the AGO with grant administration and a plan where multiple providers exist in a county. Committee members were repeatedly told that the program will create faster outreach to victims and can keep appropriate cases out of the court…