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Committee hears DOC data showing detainee mix, court delays and limits on DOC’s role in bail decisions
Summary
Members of the Corrections & Institutions Committee reviewed DOC figures on detainees, out‑of‑state holds and the impact of remote court proceedings. DOC emphasized that bail is set by the courts and that recent court-processing changes have increased operational burdens for corrections staff.
The Vermont Department of Corrections presented committee members with current detainee counts, residency breakdowns and the operational effects of slower court processing on Jan. 16.
Commissioner Ivana said the department’s daily detainee snapshot included federal detainees and state detainees; the transcript included a breakdown of 86 federal detainees (10 female, 76 male) and state detainees listed as 47 female and 422 male. Committee members were told that 37 percent of detainees were Vermont residents, 22 percent were listed as unknown and about 39 percent were from out of state.
Ivana emphasized that bail decisions are made by the courts, not DOC. “Bail is set by the courts. It is outside the purview of the Department of Corrections,” she said. Committee discussion focused on how holding people pretrial, interstate holds and bail practices affect facility populations and bed demand.
The committee also discussed how remote court proceedings have affected case processing. DOC representatives told the committee that earlier expectations that remote hearings would speed case resolution have not materialized; instead, remote proceedings have contributed to slower processing and operational complications for corrections staff who are frequently required to facilitate court access within facilities.
Why it matters: the mix of detainees—people charged but not convicted versus sentenced individuals—affects how DOC allocates bed space, reentry services and transport resources. The committee expressed interest in deeper analysis of which detainees are held on bail, the amounts of bail, and whether bail practices differ by residency or offense type; DOC said that level of breakdown would require further work.
Ending: Committee members requested more detailed, disaggregated data on detainee bail status, residency and charges so they can evaluate policy implications and possible legislative responses.
