By Guy Page
The guest for the Wednesday December 10 Hot Off The Press on WDEV AM 550, FM 96.1, and WDEVRadio.com was Essex County State’s Attorney and longtime state senator Vince Illuzzi. Subject: bail reform – what does the Constitution say, what does the law say, and how could Legislature, judges and state’s attorneys do more to hold dangerous criminals pending trial?
Illuzzi, first elected to the Vermont Senate in 1980 and a longtime prosecutor, said the Vermont State Constitution forbids no-bail holding of suspects except when the charge is violent crime with a high likelihood of guilty. Other Vermont laws hinder the heavy application of bail, resulting in ‘frequent flyers,’ he said. Hiring more judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys won’t solve the problem because 1) it’s too expensive and 2) there aren’t enough trained, experienced people available. Amending the Constitution is time consuming and unlikely in the current legislative environment.
What would work? Creating a frequent-flyer-unfriendly cash bail system, similar to the much tougher federal system’s. “Based on the political winds in Vermont, I don’t see that happening,” Illuzzi said.
On a related note, Illuzzi said that on Friday he’s expecting to find out the likely sentencing for a drug criminal who sold methamphetamines, receiving payment sometimes in the form of Vermont ‘food stamp’ EBT cards, as well as store gift cards.
Callers are always welcome to call HOTP live at 802-244-1777.
Yesterday, Tuesday December 9, VDC talked about the downtown Burlington woes with Burlington Daily News editor Kolby LaMarche and, with FYIVT.com publisher Dave Soulia, about efforts to take away woodstoves by some State House climate activists.
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Hot Off The Press – December 9th, 2025 – kolby LaMARCHE & DAVE SOULIA.
Hot Off The Press – December 8th, 2025
Hot Off The Press – December 1st, 2025 – December 1 is Return to Work Day for state employees, and due date for Property Tax Letter. Callers and host Guy Page discuss.
HOT OFF THE PRESS – NOVEMBER 28TH, 2025. Feedback Friday!