Justice Reinvestment Initiative

Vermont Governor Phil Scott recently signed a bipartisan criminal justice bill designed to reduce recidivism and dissect racial disparities in the state’s prisons.

The funding includes continued investment in key programs, including Justice Reinvestment and the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program.

Justice Reinvestment legislation recently passed in Vermont is the latest example of a state turning pessimistic parole into “presumptive parole.”

Reentry and behavioral health programming are among the issues the state is examining.

Staff from the CSG Justice Center met with the Kansas Criminal Justice Reform Commission last week to present findings and policy recommendations based on recent assessment activities as part of the state’s Justice Reinvestment effort, which launched in September.

Vermont will reinvest nearly $700,000 in community-based programs to reduce recidivism with a likely focus on programs for people who are supervised for domestic violence offenses.