Superintendent: Chittenden women’s facility ‘aging’ and overcrowded; committee hears proposals for repairs and re‑entry options

Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility leadership told the House Corrections Committee on April 4 that the aging women’s facility is operating over capacity, has deferred maintenance that affects humane conditions, and needs both immediate repairs and long‑term planning for replacements and re‑entry housing.

"Since I've been at Chittenden, I have seen a facility that is aging in desperate need of repairs in order to be humane to the individuals that are in our care," said Carol Finley, superintendent at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility. Finley and Amy Jacobs (identified in the record as "Silly's director") described inconsistent heating and ventilation, pest issues under showers, an infirmary converted from an empty room without full treatment capacity, and flooring and fixture problems that created safety risks for staff and residents.

Officials reported a current total female population of about 181 across the state, with roughly 178 women at Chittenden that day; of those, staff said 76 are state detainees and 10 are federal (U.S. Marshals) detainees. Finley said the population divides into three broad groups: people who are appropriately confined in restrictive settings for serious offenses; people with comorbid clinical and substance‑use needs who might be served in the community if supports were available; and repeated violators of supervision whose returns strain capacity.

Staff outlined near‑term priorities tied to safety and ADA compliance — replacing compromised doors, fixing showers and drainage, and addressing infirmary gaps — while noting language changes in the capital bill that allow spending on renovations before a replacement facility is built. Finley said the facility has added translation devices (iPads and handheld translators) and signage in Spanish and Haitian Creole to improve language access, and she described reserved visiting space and attorney rooms for counsel visits (with one non‑contact room temporarily offline for repairs).

On staffing, officials said recruitment is active; the facility has 72.5 allocated staff positions and about 14 current vacancies. Finley described recent academy graduates and targeted recruitment for female officers; she also stressed a rehabilitative model of corrections and plans to emphasize treatment and re‑entry supports for residents.

Committee members raised overflow concerns: the gymroom is the last contingency for housing and would be used for emergency bunks if population reaches the ~190–200 range. Members and staff discussed alternatives including a re‑entry residential center or step‑down housing for detainees nearing release, but flagged siting challenges, proximity to community services and the need for coordination with courts and community partners.

Finley and members asked for follow‑up data on drivers of detention — including how many returns result from probation/parole violations, how many are held without bail and how often substance‑related violations trigger re‑detention — and staff agreed to provide numbers. The committee did not take an immediate vote; members said they would continue oversight as capital bill language and facility planning proceed.

The hearing closed with scheduling notes and a plan to circulate bill language and follow‑up numbers to the committee.