Governor’s counsel outlines public-safety package, urges repeal of 19‑year juvenile change

Jay Pershing Johnson, legal counsel to Governor Phil Scott, told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 16 that the administration will present an omnibus public-safety bill that seeks to change how Vermont handles several criminal-justice issues, including the planned April 2025 expansion of juvenile jurisdiction to age 19.

"We are looking to repeal, raise the age for 19 year old adult offenders, and reform our youthful offender procedures to ensure accountability," Johnson said. He told the committee the administration believes the April 2025 change — which would treat some 19-year-olds as juveniles — is untested and that the Department for Children and Families lacks capacity to manage the resulting caseload.

Key proposals described to the committee included: - Repeal of the April 2025 expansion of juvenile jurisdiction that would treat 19-year-olds as youth for certain proceedings; - Reform to youthful-offender procedures…