WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

H 380

An act relating to creating a felony penalty for a violation of conditions of release and to staff the pretrial supervision program

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dan Noyes and 1 co-sponsor

The bill would create a felony penalty for knowingly violating release conditions and add staff to Vermont’s pretrial supervision program.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Corrections and Institutions
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 380

Overview

House Bill H.380 (2025-2026) from Vermont proposes two related changes aimed at strengthening pretrial supervision and accountability:

  • Create a felony penalty for violations of conditions of release.
  • Provide staffing for the pretrial supervision program.

The bill has been referred to the Committee on Corrections and Institutions after its first reading on February 26, 2025. It lists two co-sponsors: Rep. Dave Yacovone and Rep. Dan Noyes.

Purpose and intent

  • Enhance public safety by deterring violations of release conditions issued to individuals awaiting trial.
  • Strengthen the capacity and reliability of the pretrial supervision program through additional staff, improving monitoring, compliance checks, and support services.

Key provisions

  1. Felony penalty for violating conditions of release

    • Establishes a felony-level sanction for individuals who knowingly and systematically violate conditions set as part of release from jail or detention pending trial.
    • The exact criteria for what constitutes a violation (e.g., failure to appear, contact restrictions, curfews, substance monitoring, travel limitations) and the level of the felony classification (e.g., Class A or B felony) are not detailed in the available information but would be defined in the bill text.
    • The provision aims to create increased accountability for defendants who undermine release supervision.

  2. Staffing for the pretrial supervision program

    • Directs resources or policy changes to ensure adequate staffing for Vermont’s pretrial supervision program.
    • Aims to improve supervision quality, case management, risk assessment, and timely responses to violations.
    • May involve hiring, training, and appropriate oversight of staff such as pretrial case managers, probation officers, or surveillance personnel.

Who would be affected

  • Individuals released under pretrial conditions who would be subject to the enhanced consequences for violations.
  • The pretrial supervision program, which would experience changes in staffing levels and operational capacity.
  • Court systems and law enforcement agencies overseeing release compliance and violations.
  • Potential defendants facing enhanced penalties could see longer or more severe penalties if convicted of violating release conditions.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Corrections and Institutions (February 26, 2025).
  • As a first-step bill, the text would proceed through committee consideration, potential amendments, and subsequent floor votes before moving to any further legislative stages.
  • Dates for committee hearings, votes, and potential enactment are not provided in the current summary and would depend on the committee schedule and legislative calendar.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Deterrence: A felony penalty for release-condition violations could deter noncompliant behavior but may raise debates about proportionality, due process, and racial or socioeconomic impacts.
  • System capacity: Staffing the pretrial program could improve supervision effectiveness but would require budgetary allocations and long-term operational planning.
  • Implementation details: The bill’s effectiveness will hinge on the specific definitions of “violation,” the felony classification, sentencing guidelines, and how the new penalties interact with existing criminal justice statutes.

If you’d like, I can adjust the summary once the full text is available, including exact statutory language, penalty class, and operational details.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.