Victims tell committee VineLink failures make earned-time expansion risky

Two survivors and multiple victim-advocacy witnesses told the Joint Justice Oversight Committee that Vermont’s victim-notification practices must be fixed before the state expands earned-time credits.

Anna Nasette described a long history of stalking and said that, unlike her experience with Washington state’s VINELINK, Vermont’s implementation failed to provide timely or trauma-informed notice. She warned that expanding earned or "learned" time would "further traumatize and cause fear" if notifications and outreach are not reworked.

Kelsey Rice, a member of the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services Victim Advisory Council, gave detailed testimony about late or automated VineLink calls that arrived after an offender had already been released and said the results were "devastating." Rice asked the committee to "pause moving forward" with Act 159-style earned-time expansions until Vermont examines and repairs the notification system and invests in trauma-informed training and oversight.

Christopher, a victim advocate for the Department for State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs, presented survey results from 15 victim advocates across the state: 14 opposed extending earned time to parolees and roughly 80% opposed adding education-based credits; 12 of 14 said they lacked confidence in Vine’s ability to handle an expansion. He urged clearer, plain-language notices and stronger system education so victims understand notification options and timing.

Committee members said the testimony would inform recommendations and that further interagency coordination — including improved communication at the law-enforcement intake stage and clearer sentence-calculation communication at sentencing — will be needed if the legislature considers an expansion.