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bail revocation, no expungement, sentencing reform, ‘raise the age’ repeal
by Guy Page
In the face of climbing homicide, aggravated assault, motor vehicle theft, identity theft, retail theft crime since 2018, Gov. Scott said at his press conference Jan. 14 that his administration will push four anti-crime measures in the Legislature.
Top of the list: more bail revocation, within constitutional limits, for repeat offenders.
Government must both protect civil liberties and promote public safety, and “we are clearly not striking the right balance,” Scott said. “The safety of the public comes first.”
A reporter noted that Vermont prisons are at 135% of capacity and may soon be asked by federal authorities to hold detained immigrants. Scott responded that the ‘catch and release’ serial offenders are a small number of people. Bail revocation and other measures may actually reduce imprisonment longterm. His policies may not require more prison beds, he suggested.
“Holding people accountable will be a deterrent. There’s nothing holding them accountable now,” Scott said.
He repeated that Vermonters are insisting on change.
“It will give comfort to the community,” Scott said. “John Q. Public doesn’t understand. And we’re trying to address that.”
The Scott administration also will push to change law allowing expungement of criminal records. Instead, records could be sealed, allowing people to find housing and jobs while still giving law enforcement access to criminal records.
And, Scott wants a new law limiting judicial use of suspended sentences for violent crimes. Too many judges are letting felons go free post-sentencing, including violent repeat offenders, he said.
The administration also will try to repeal the ‘raise the age’ law that as of April 2025 will allow 19-year-olds to be tried as juveniles.
Scott also said he wants the Department of Public Safety raised to a cabinet level agency.
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Categories: Public Safety
Wow, has the Governor been asleep at the wheel, crime has been on the increase for years, and Gov.Scott’s New Year resolution is to ” propose ” Crime Bills, actions speak louder than words !!
We’ll see
This dude’s been governor since I moved here. Even I know how crappy the system is. And I’m used to hood crapola. It’s what I have been trying to escape and warn people about whenever I move to a “nicer” area. But nowhere is safe anymore. If it ain’t climate destruction, it’s crime, or there’s an active war, or straight up communism.
“It will give comfort to the community,” Scott said. “John Q. Public doesn’t understand. And we’re trying to address that.”
Yeah, I don’t understand that comment. I DO understand that something has to change and it’s time for real crime to be punished with real prison time.
Imagine that !!! Where in the world has this clown been for the last 10 years? Vermont has been on a rapid decline for at least 10 years and NOW he is speaking about doing something. Vermonters need to stand up to these clowns ! We need to be calling and emailing these politicians and demanding action now !
This was also one of Scott’s fundamental planks in his last year’s state of the state address. It was good rhetoric and was, of course, critically needed last year, but my sense is that it’s going to be up to our 180 state legislators to do the heavy lifting on this and hash it out to where it actually creates legislation with teeth in it and which translates into genuine reformation in our communities.
We must keep pressing our elected representatives on this; it seems like that’s where Scott derives any real clout, if you can call it that from. Therefore, the voices and solutions of common sense and the will to enact tough legislation to deal with the Michael Reynoldses, Patrick Ibbotsons, Teddy Farnhams, etc., must override the whiny voices of those who keep offering tired old ineffective Marxist solutions that treat criminals as victims and victims as criminals.
Safe crime sites ain’t cutting it. Mayors who issue gag orders against police chiefs who call a spade a spade must be fired. Prosecutors who don’t want to prosecute must be ousted. Judges who overemphasize rehabilitation over retributive justice for habitual offenders at the expense of public safety need to step down.
Governor Windsock remains the champion chicken dancer, panderer-in-charge, master of empty platitudes. A sad state of affairs when the governor talks out both sides of his mouth and still says absolutely nothing of substance or even believable.
Honestly, the State of Vermont leadership is made of the most spineless, low-vibrating sloth-like creatures I’ve ever seen in over 50 years of existing here. Lord have mercy!
lol, well said. And Vermonters will once again listen to what he says and nothing will change. Lots of positions, lots of vetos and we’ll be another year with rising crime, drug use and zero affordability.
Don’t give up hope, Moro and crew will be building 20,000 rental units for out of staters to move here on YOUR tax dollar, and YOU’LL subsidize the building, financing, AND rent.
Meanwhile Vermonters will be glad the new Subaru model is coming out and it’s a bit bigger and easier to raise your family in!
He said nothing and will do even less. But the VTGOP is all excited, our lt governor will have something dead in the wall and our governor will race around in circles and get nothing done.
We can do better, Lord help us.
The poster award goes to M. C. whom is a master of colorful words about your Vermont leadership.
Whatever the Governor, legislature, and senate pass regarding public safety laws, Sarah George and like minded judges will do as they please. That our prisons are at 135% capacity, understaffed, and the ACLU will sue if we send prisoners out of state will matter more to them. Sorry to be depressing.
Depressing is the Truth regarding the State of the State of Vermont, unless you’re a well compensated grifter or a taxpayer supported bureaucrat. For them, self-induced delulison is bliss.
My brother moved to Florida in 1978. Last year, he told me he left because he could see there was no way he would ever be sucessful here. In Florida, he had a sucessful career, raised a family and now enjoying his retirement securely and comfortably. I was going to leave in the 1990’s, but decided to stay. Things were going well enough until 2020 – then the agenda was pushed down our throat with a plunger. The devil returned from Georgia and settled into Vermont.