By Guy Page

The Vermont House of Representatives is scheduled to vote this afternoon, Wednesday March 12, on postponing its decision to ‘raise the age’ of juvenile crime until at least 2027.

H.2, “minimum age for delinquency proceedings,” would require the Agency of Human Services (AHS) is set to present progress reports on the implementation of the Raise the Age initiative, with updates due on or before July 1, 2026, and December 1, 2026. The 2027 Legislature would presumably act on the updates, with the initiative to take full effect by July 1, 2027.

The vote follows a recent decision by the State of Vermont to not house 18-19 years olds at a proposed new secure juvenile facility in Vergennes. Also, Gov. Phil Scott and others have expressed strong concern about out-of-state drug gangs, aware of Vermont’s juvenile crime laws, using teenagers as drug debt enforcers, sometimes with deadly results. 

The Raise the Age initiative aims to modify the juvenile justice system by increasing to 21 the age at which individuals can be charged as adults, ensuring that young offenders receive age-appropriate interventions and support services. The reports will assess progress in several key areas:

Establishing a Secure Residential Facility – Efforts to develop a dedicated facility to house youth offenders securely while providing rehabilitative services will be a major focus.

Expanding Capacity for Nonresidential Treatment Programs – The state aims to strengthen community-based services, ensuring that youth have access to necessary interventions without requiring residential placement.

Maximizing Use of Residential Treatment Programs – AHS will evaluate whether existing residential treatment facilities are being utilized effectively and whether they meet the needs of the affected population.

Expanding Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) Contracts – The initiative emphasizes restorative justice programs designed to reduce recidivism and promote accountability through community-based conflict resolution and rehabilitation efforts.

Enhancing Services for Children with Developmental Disabilities – Recognizing the unique needs of children with developmental disabilities, the reports will track progress in expanding service availability and accessibility.

Establishing a Stabilization Program for Children – AHS is working to develop a stabilization program that will provide immediate and effective interventions for children in crisis.