2018 Criminal Justice Reform Legislative Reforms
The ACLU and our partners are working with lawmakers to advance an ambitious series of reforms. Read our letter to lawmakers here.
Bail Reform
Perhaps nothing would have a larger impact on reducing the number of people we incarcerate than bail reform. In Vermont, around 400 people are incarcerated pretrial every day; many of them are there simply because they cannot afford to pay bail. We are urging the legislature to take action this session to ensure that no one is incarcerated simply because they are poor.
Drug Policy Reform
Vermont just became the first state to decriminalize marijuana by legislation (other states have done so via ballot referendum). This is an important step forward, but we still have a long way to go to end the failed and costly War on Drugs. Further decriminalization, investments in treatment services, and establishment of safe injection sites—all of these things are still needed to shift the emphasis from punishment to treatment.
Other Legislative Reforms in Progress
Further, the legislature has already introduced a number of bills that would significantly reduce the prison population in Vermont. We’re advocating for speedy passage and implementation of this legislation.
Reducing Prison Population
Preventing Incarceration
Reducing Collateral Consequences
Improving Conditions