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Sorrell to hold three forums on incarceration, Dec 7,8,14

Submitted by tim on

Vermont Business Magazine Should Vermont reduce its reliance on incarceration as a response to criminal conduct?Attorney General Bill Sorrell invites the public to join him and others at one of three forums across Vermont to offer their thoughts and ideas. “Vermont leaders and legislators have taken many steps during the past two decades, both through policy and legislation, to ease prison overcrowding and minimize the need to send Vermont prisoners out of state,” said Sorrell. “In particular, I would like to hear whether Vermonters are ready to ask the Legislature to commit to a statewide policy regarding sentencing and release decisions that reduces reliance on incarceration or lengthy incarceration in response to criminal conduct.”

As the attached Fact Shhetshows, the costs of incarceration – both human and financial – continue to be high.

Vermont Incarceration Fact Sheet
Office of Vermont Attorney General – December 3, 2015
Incarceration
  • The national incarcerated population (in state and federal prisons) has increased almost five-fold since 1975.
  • Vermont’s incarcerated population has increased by over 300% since 1974 – now 1,800 individuals – while the general population has increased by just 35%.
  • Many incarcerated Vermonters are pre-trial detainees (over 350) or have been held beyond their minimum release date (over 650), often for lack of appropriate housing.
  • Vermont’s incarcerated population has exceeded capacity for more than 15 years, and approximately 290 inmates are currently housed in an out-of-state prison in Michigan.
  • 90% of Vermont’s incarcerated population will eventually be released into the community.
  • At this time, more than 6,000 children in Vermont are affected by a parent’s incarceration,

Costs

  • Corrections spending has increased approximately 2000% since FY75.
  • It costs nearly $60,000 annually for each individual incarcerated in Vermont.

Crime Rates

  • The rate of violent crime nationally has dropped 50% in last 20 years.
  • Vermont’s rate of violent crime is approximately 1/3 of the national average.

Representatives from law enforcement, corrections and human services officials, prisoner rights groups, victim advocates, and others will join the Attorney General at the following forums:

Monday, December 7th, 5:30 pmWhite River Jct. – Selectboard Room, 171 Bridge Street, 1st Floor, Room 1

Tuesday, December 8th, 7:00 pmRutland – Fox Room at Rutland Free Library, 10 Court Street

Monday, December 14th, 5:00 pmBurlington – Burlington City Hall, Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street

All members of the public are welcome. Persons unable to attend a forum are welcome to submit comments to:[email protected]by December 18, 2015.

Vermont AG: Dec 3, 2015