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Vermont pilot ‘accountability docket’ cleared backlog and linked defendants to treatment, officials say
Summary
State prosecutors told the House and Senate Judiciary committees that a Chittenden County “accountability docket” pilot, launched Oct. 20, 2025, resolved dozens of cases by front-loading treatment, using a dedicated judge and arranging on-the-spot referrals — while exposing gaps in housing and the mental-health competency process.
Kate McManus, with the Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs, told the House and Senate Judiciary committees on Feb. 11 that the Chittenden County accountability docket aimed to speed case resolution and improve access to treatment for people with multiple pending dockets.
The pilot began after Governor Scott convened stakeholders in response to community concern and court strain in Chittenden County. Zach Waite, the governor’s special prosecutor on the project, said he was appointed on Oct. 16, 2025, and that “day 1 of the Chittenden County accountability court was 10/20/2025.” Waite and other panelists told lawmakers the court targeted people with five or more pending dockets who consumed a disproportionate share of court resources.
Why it mattered: prosecutors and the governor’s office said the pilot aimed to clear backlog and reduce pressure on regular dockets so prosecutors could focus on serious felonies. Waite said people with three or more pending dockets accounted for about 43% of the caseload and that concentrating resources on…
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