Rising detainee population — and a surge in women detainees — strain Vermont facilities
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Summary
Committee members heard that detainee counts have increased (653 detainees cited), female detainee numbers rose sharply at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility, and about 150 people remain in out‑of‑state placement under a CoreCivic contract; lawmakers pressed for data and contingency planning.
Lawmakers pressed corrections officials about a rising detainee population and an especially large increase among women that is concentrating pressure on Vermont facilities.
The interim commissioner told the committee that, as of the department’s Tuesday count, "653 today" detainees were in custody systemwide. She said 566 of those were state detainers and 87 were primary federal detainers, adding that the 87 federal count included approximately 20 immigration detainers. "The 87 primary federal includes the 20 immigration detainers," the commissioner said.
Legislators flagged a 44% increase in the female population versus a 13% increase for males. The commissioner said the spike in women is "largely, vastly driven by detainees" at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility, where detainees make up roughly half the population. Committee members asked whether the state would send women out of state if numbers continued to rise; the commissioner said she was "super reluctant" to do so and had explored options only at the chair of Senate Institutions’ request, but emphasized that sending women out of state was not part of the current budget.
The committee and DOC staff also reviewed bed counts and capacity: Northern State Correctional Facility (Newport) has a general population capacity of 402 and total capacity of 433; Southern State Correctional Facility (Springfield) has general population capacity of 250 and total capacity of 378. The commissioner pointed at an unused Springfield wing of about 150 beds and said bringing people back from out‑of‑state placements (about 150) remains feasible in principle but would require town agreements and is not funded in the current request.
Members asked for more granular data, including the proportion of detainees who are ultimately sentenced versus time‑served or released; DOC said it can produce those figures on request but did not have them on hand.
The committee scheduled follow‑up questions and asked DOC to provide counts and breakdowns ahead of the next session.
