Vermont oversight panel affirms Raise the Age goals but flags data, staffing and facility gaps ahead of April 1, 2025

The Justice Oversight Committee on September 18 examined Vermont’s planned expansion of the Raise the Age law, which would move 19‑year‑olds charged with non‑'big' offenses into family‑division proceedings beginning April 1, 2025, and heard competing views on whether the state is ready.

Office of Legislative Council attorney Eric Spadzik reviewed the law’s history and current schedule, noting the original act (2018) staged implementation in phases and that the legislature recently expanded the list of automatically criminal offenses (commonly called the 'big' list) from 12 to 14. Spadzik told the committee the April 1, 2025 effective date was deliberately set to limit the opportunity for further extensions and is now the statutory target absent new legislative action.

Matthew Bernstein, Child, Youth and Family Advocate, said national research suggests treating young people in age‑appropriate systems reduces recidivism and supports public safety. Bernstein urged…