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Advocates urge clearer victim-notification, hearing rights in S193 forensic bill
Summary
Witnesses told the House Corrections & Institutions Committee that S193 should mirror Title 13 court procedures so victims are asked if they wish to be heard, be given advance notice of hearings, and that hearings be continued if required notice is not provided; advocates also urged explicit rules for notifications when individuals move through forensic facilities.
Charlie Glyman, policy director at the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, told the House Corrections & Institutions Committee that S193 currently includes a victim's right to be heard but needs clearer procedures to make the right meaningful. "This language provides victims an opportunity to speak directly to the court," Glyman said, and urged language mirroring Title 13 protocols used in sentencing and plea hearings so courts explicitly ask whether victims are present or have submitted views.
Why it matters: Without clear procedures, victims may not receive timely notice of hearings or transfers and therefore may lose the chance to participate in proceedings…
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