Joint Legislative Justice Oversight Committee

Fomerly The Joint Legislative Corrections Oversight Committee

The Joint Legislative Justice Oversight Committee exercises oversight over the Department of Corrections and works with and provides assistance to other legislative committees on matters related to corrections policies.

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Thursday, June 3, 2021

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Election of Chair and Vice-Chair

9:15 AM

Overview of Committee Charges

• Brynn Hare, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

9:30 AM

S.107 - An act relating to confidential information concerning the initial arrest and charge of a juvenile

Addressing the Governor's Veto
Implementation of Raise the Age

• Sean Brown, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  
• John Campbell, Executive Director, Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• Brian Grearson, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  
• Evan Meenan, Deputy Director, State's Attorneys and Sheriffs' Dept.
  
• Marshall Pahl, Appellate and Juvenile Defender, Defender General's Office
  
• David Scherr, Assistant Attorney General, Attorney General's Office
  

11:15 AM

Break

11:30 AM

DOC Update on Justice Reinvestment II

• James Baker, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Dale Crook, Director of Field Services, Department of Corrections
  
• Monica Weeber, Director of Administrative Services, Department of Corrections
  

1:00 PM

Committee Discussion

Schedule Future Meetings and Agenda Items

1:20 AM

Adjourn

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Thursday, July 15, 2021

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Contingent Housing vs. Scattered Housing

• James Baker, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• David D'Amora, Senior Policy Advisor, Council of State Governments Justice Center
  
• Emily Higgins, Corrections Housing Administrator, Department of Corrections
  

10:15 AM

Update on Issues in Women's Correctional Facility

• Jennifer Fitch, Commissioner, Department of Buildings and General Services
  

10:30 AM

S.7 - An act relating to expanding access to expungement and sealing of criminal history records

• Brian Grearson, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  
• Marshall Pahl, Appellate and Juvenile Defender, Defender General's Office
  
• David Scherr, Assistant Attorney General, Attorney General's Office
  
• Judge Thomas Zonay
  

12:30 PM

Break

1:00 PM

S.7 - An act relating to expanding access to expungement and sealing of criminal history records

• John Campbell, Executive Director, Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• David D'Amora, Senior Policy Advisor, Council of State Governments Justice Center
  
• Jaye Johnson, General Counsel, Governor's Office
  
• Evan Meenan, Deputy Director, State's Attorneys and Sheriffs' Dept.
  
• Sarah Robinson, Deputy Director, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
  

1:30 PM

DOC Facility Staffing Shortage Issues

• James Baker, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Steve Howard, Executive Director, Vermont State Employees Association
  

3:15 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

Raise The Age Programming Including Housing

• Tyler Allen, Adolescent Services Director, DCF, Family Services Division
  
• Jennifer Myka, General Counsel, Department for Children and Families
  
• Aryka Radke, Deputy Commissioner, Family Services Division, Department for Children and Families
  

10:45 AM

Youthful Offender Status Definitions

• Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

11:00 AM

Beckett Facility

Status of Youthful Offenders Going to Beckett(Judicial/Non Judicial)
Plan B for Beckett

• Joseph Aja, Director Design & Construction, Department of Buildings and General Services
  
• Sean Brown, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  
• Jenn Herbert, Clinical Director, Department for Children and Families
  
• Tabrena Karish, Building Engineer, Department of Buildings and General Services
  
• Marc O'Grady, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Buildings and General Services
  
• Marshall Pahl, Appellate and Juvenile Defender, Defender General's Office
  
• Judy Rex, Director of Policy and Planning, Department for Children and Families
  
• Doug Sonsalla, Principal, Studio Nexus Architects and Planners
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Juveniles Sent Out of State

Efficiency of Sending Juveniles Out of State
Number Of Juveniles Currently Out of State

• Sean Brown, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  
• Marshall Pahl, Appellate and Juvenile Defender, Defender General's Office
  

1:30 PM

S.7 - An act relating to expanding access to expungement and sealing of criminal history records

Sec 5

• Mairead O'Reilly, Staff Attorney, Vermont Legal Aid
  
• Michelle Pelletier, Restitution Unit Manager, Center for Crime Victim Services
  

2:00 PM

Committee Discussion

2:30 PM

Adjourn

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Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

S.7 - An act relating to expanding access to expungement and sealing of criminal history records

Committee Charge and New Legislation

• Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:30 AM

Youthful Offender Status vs. Raise the Age

• Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:45 AM

DOC and Overall AHS Staffing Issues

Overall issues and plans to address them
Will Beckett draw staff away from other providers?

• Sean Brown, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  
• Steve Howard, Executive Director, Vermont State Employees Association
  
• Jenney Samuelson, Deputy Secretary, Agency of Human Services
  

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Department of Corrections Staff

Qualifications and placement of new staff

• James Baker, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• James Baker, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Jennifer Fitch, Commissioner, Department of Buildings and General Services
  
• Steve Howard, Executive Director, Vermont State Employees Association
  
• Rosemary Webber, Director, Office of Professional Standards and Compliance, Department of Corrections
  

12:30 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Progress on Body Camera Policy

• James Baker, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Jodi Barriere, Safety Manager, Department of Corrections
  
• Christine Cowart, Senior Policy and Implementation Analyst, Department of Corrections
  

1:30 PM

Visit to Women's Reentry Facility in Maine

• James Baker, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Jennifer Fitch, Commissioner, Department of Buildings and General Services
  
• Bill Soule, Community Corrections District Manager, Department of Corrections
  

2:15 PM

Review of Misdemeanor Probation Use by the Sentencing Commission

• Karen Gennette, Executive DirectorCrime Research Group, Vermont Sentencing Commission
  

2:30 PM

Committee Discussion

2:45 PM

Adjourn

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Friday, October 15, 2021

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

S.7 - An act relating to expanding access to expungement and sealing of criminal history records

Legislative Charge

• Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Chris D'Elia, President, Vermont Bankers' Association
  
• T.J. Donovan, Attorney General, Vermont Attorney General's Office
  
• Brian Grearson, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  
• Evan Meenan, Deputy Director, State's Attorneys and Sheriffs' Dept.
  
• Mairead O'Reilly, Staff Attorney, Vermont Legal Aid
  
• Marshall Pahl, Appellate and Juvenile Defender, Defender General's Office
  
• Jennifer Poehlmann, Executive Director, Center for Crime Victim Services
  

12:45 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

Prison Transports

Current System
Report on use of state paid deputies for transports
Alternative contract options for transports

• Mark Anderson, President, Sheriff's Association
  
• Tim Ashe, Deputy State Auditor, State Auditor's Office
  
• Brian Grearson, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  
• Steve Howard, Executive Director, Vermont State Employees Association
  
• Roger Marcoux, Sheriff, Lamoille County
  
• Annie Noonan, SAS Labor Relations and Operations Manager, State's Attorneys and Sheriffs Association
  

3:15 AM

Committee Discussion

3:30 PM

Adjourn

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Friday, October 29, 2021

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

1:20 PM

UVM Presentation on Child Custody Issues in Vermont

Joint Meeting with Child Protection Committee

• Hannah Holbrook, Clinical Psychologist, University of Vermont
  
• Sen. Jane Kitchel, Chair, Senate Committee on Appropriations
  
• Jessica Strolin-Goltzman, Professor, College of Education and Social Services, University of Vermont
  

3:00 PM

Adjourn

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Friday, November 5, 2021

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

Rule 74

• James Baker, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Emily Carr, General Counsel, Department of Corrections
  
• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  

10:30 AM

S.7 - An act relating to expanding access to expungement and sealing of criminal history records

Legislative Recommendations

• Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Role of State Deputies

Recommendations for updating duties

• Stephanie Barrett, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
  
• Roger Marcoux, Sheriff, Lamoille County
  
• Annie Noonan, SAS Labor Relations and Operations Manager, State's Attorneys and Sheriffs Association
  

1:45 PM

Update on Criminal Justice Fines and Fees

• Stephanie Barrett, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
  
• Dan Dickerson, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  

2:00 PM

Adjourn

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Friday, November 12, 2021

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

Rule 74

• Emily Carr, General Counsel, Department of Corrections
  
• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Emily Tredeau, Supervising Attorney, Prisoners' Rights Office, Office of the Defender General
  
• Judge Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  

11:00 AM

Criminal Justice Council and Department of Corrections Updates

-minimum training standards of correctional officers
-process for certification/decertification of correctional officers
-proposals on complaint investigations within DOC,
-proposal on addressing the relationship between CJC and DOC's
Investigative Unit on the scope of investigative authority

• Al Cormier, Chief of Operations, Department of Corrections
  
• Heather Simons, Executive Director, Criminal Justice Council
  
• Rose Webber, Director, Office of Professional Standards and Compliance, Department of Corrections
  

11:30 AM

Covid -19 Updates

Department of Corrections

• Al Cormier, Chief of Operations, Department of Corrections
  
• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Rachel Feldman, Principal Assistant and Public Information Officer, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

State Paid Deputies

Current system and suggested changes

• Amerin Aborjaily, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Mark Anderson, President, Sheriff's Association
  
• Annie Noonan, Labor Relations and Operations Manager, State's Attorneys and Sheriffs Association
  

3:00 PM

Adjourn

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Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

Overview of Committee Charge

Future Agenda Items and Witnesses

• Stephanie Barrett, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:30 AM

Study on deceptive and coercive methods of law enforcement interrogation.

• Michael E. Schirling, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety
  
• William Sorrell, Chair, Vermont Criminal Justice Council
  
• Julio Thompson, Director, Civil Rights Unit, Office of the Attorney General
  
• Dan Trottier, Sergeant, Public Safety Department
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Study of Restorative Justice Programming in Vermont

• Robert Sand, Founding Director, Center for Justice Reform, Vermont Law School
  
• Ping Showalter, Former Student, Vermont Law School
  

2:30 PM

Update of DOC's Population Data

• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  

3:00 PM

Adjourn

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Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

S.45 - An act relating to earned discharge from probation

Update on Mid Point Review

• Dale Crook, Director of Field Services, Department of Corrections
  
• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  

11:00 AM

S.3 - An act relating to competency to stand trial and insanity as a defense

Section 6 (Forensic Working Group)

• Karen Barber, General Counsel, Department of Mental Health
  
• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Nicole DiStasio, Interim Policy Director, Department of Mental Health
  
• Emily Hawes, Commissioner, Department of Mental Health
  
• Stuart Schurr, General Counsel, Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living
  
• Samantha Sweet, Director of Mental Health Services, Department of Mental Health
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

S.224 - An act relating to juvenile proceedings

Update on plan for secure placements for 18 year old offenders
Update on secure treatments and aftercare for 12-17 year old offenders
Update on current 15 year old in Chittenden facility

• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Jennifer Myka, General Counsel, Department for Children and Families
  
• Aryka Radke, Deputy Commissioner, Family Services Division, Department for Children and Families
  
• Joshua Rutherford, Director of Classification and Facility Designation, Department of Corrections
  

2:00 PM

Restorative Justice Funding

• Stephanie Barrett, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
  
• Lindy Boudreau, Juvenile Justice Director, Department for Children and Families
  
• Willa Farrell, Director, Court Diversion and Pre-Trial Services
  
• Derek Miodownik, Restorative and Community Justice Executive, Department of Corrections
  

3:00 PM

Agenda Items for Future Meetings

Committee Discussion

• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

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Thursday, September 15, 2022

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

JRII Investments

How to collect data and outcomes
Effectiveness of investments
Explanation of FY22 Carry forward for funding

• Maria Belliveau, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
  
• Kristin Calver, Finance Director, Department of Corrections
  
• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Derek Miodownik, Restorative and Community Justice Executive, Department of Corrections
  
• Sarah Robinson, Deputy Director, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
  
• Cheryl Wilcox, Interagency Planning Director, Department of Mental Health
  

11:15 AM

Geographic Consistency and Equity of Restorative Justice Initiatives in Vermont

Which counties are using sequential intercept model/how often
Statutory requirements for Restorative Justice initiatives in Vermont
Overview of Services

• Lindy Boudreau, Juvenile Justice Director, Department for Children and Families
  
• John Campbell, Executive Director, Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• Willa Farrell, Director, Court Diversion and Pre-Trial Services
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Judge Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  

1:00 PM

Lunch

1:45 PM

Geographic Consistency and Equity of Restorative Justice Initiatives in Vermont

• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Derek Miodownik, Restorative and Community Justice Executive, Department of Corrections
  

2:00 AM

Overview of Interrogation Study for Sept 28th Meeting

• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

2:15 PM

DOC Staffing Methods

• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Steve Howard, Executive Director, Vermont State Employees Association
  

3:40 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

Police Interrogation Techniques for Juveniles

Use of False Information

• Nathaniel Erb, Policy Advocate, The Innocence Project
  

11:00 AM

Law Enforcement Training Audit

Report from the State Auditor's Office

• Tim Ashe, Deputy State Auditor, State Auditor's Office
  

12:00 AM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Update on our Criminal Justice Centers

• Heather Hobart, Director, Lamoille Restorative Center
  
• Rachel Jolly, Executive Director, Burlington Community Justice Center
  
• Mel Motel, Director, Brattleboro Community Justice Center
  

2:00 PM

Update on Placements for Violent Juveniles with mental Health Issues

• Sean Brown, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  
• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Erica Marthage, State's Attorney, Bennington County
  
• Aryka Radke, Deputy Commissioner, Family Services Division, Department for Children and Families
  
• Joshua Rutherford, Director of Classification and Facility Designation, Department of Corrections
  

3:30 PM

Update on Utilization of Funding

• Stephanie Barrett, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
  

4:00 PM

Adjourn

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Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:20 AM

Committee Discussion and Planning

Committee Discussion and Planning
Other Legislative Recommendations

• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:45 AM

Out of State Bed Savings FY22

Recommendations for Justice Reinvestment II in FY23
Committee Discussion

• Stephanie Barrett, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
  
• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

11:45 AM

Process for Certification and Decertification of Correctional Officers

• Al Cormier, Chief of Operations, Department of Corrections
  
• Steve Howard, Executive Director, Vermont State Employees Association
  
• Heather Simons, Executive Director, Vermont Criminal Justice Council
  

12:30 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

Committee Discussion

• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

1:30 PM

Community Justice Centers Recommendations

Committee Discussion and Planning
Other Legislative Recommendations

• Stephanie Barrett, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
  
• Derek Miodownik, Restorative and Community Justice Executive, Department of Corrections
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

2:15 PM

Update on Placement of Violent Juveniles

• Steve Howard, Executive Director, Vermont State Employees Association
  
• Jenney Samuelson, Secretary, Agency of Human Services
  

2:50 PM

Community Justice Centers Recommendations

continued

• Stephanie Barrett, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
  
• Jill Evans, Executive Director, Essex Community Justice Center
  
• Willa Farrell, Director, Court Diversion and Pre-Trial Services
  
• Derek Miodownik, Restorative and Community Justice Executive, Department of Corrections
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

4:00 PM

Adjourn

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Monday, December 12, 2022

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:10 AM

Vermont Monitoring Trends after 2020

Justice Reinvestment II

• David D'Amora, Senior Policy Advisor, Council of State Governments Justice Center
  

11:24 AM

Minimum Training of Correctional Officers Compliant Investigations

• Christopher Brickell, Deputy Director, Vermont Criminal Justice Council
  
• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Steve Howard, Executive Director, Vermont State Employees Association
  
• Jim Rice, Director of the Office of Professional Standards and Compliance, Department of Corrections
  

12:23 PM

Lunch

1:05 PM

Temporary Placement of Violent Criminals

• Harry Chen, Interim Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  
• Jennifer Fitch, Commissioner, Department of Buildings and General Services
  
• Aryka Radke, Deputy Commissioner, Family Services Division, Department for Children and Families
  

2:00 PM

Allocation of Out of State Bed Funds

Committee Discussion and vote

• Stephanie Barrett, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
  
• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Sarah Robinson, Deputy Director, Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
  

Juvenile Interrogation Techniques

Committee Discussion on bill proposal and vote

• Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

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Restorative Justice Approach to Criminal Justice

Committee Discussion

• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

3:00 PM

Adjourn

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