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, May 4, 2023

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

12:15 PM

Election of Officers and Committee Planning

1:00 PM

Adjourn

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Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

Introductions

10:15 AM

Update on Legislation from Session

• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

11:00 AM

Update on Dept of Corrections

Training, Recruiting, Fatalities and Work Crew

• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  

11:45 AM

Lunch

12:45 PM

Update on Dept of Corrections

Training, Recruiting,Fatalities and Work Crew

• Steve Howard, Executive Director, Vermont State Employees Association
  
• Timothy Lueders-Dumont, Legislative & Asst. Appellate Attorney, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• Matthew Valerio, Defender General, Defender General's Office
  
• Judge Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  

2:15 PM

Update on Governor's Safety Enhancement and Violence Prevention Action Plan

• Dee Barbic, Director, Violence Prevention Task Force
  
• Kevin Blongy, Vermont Police Association
  
• Timothy Lueders-Dumont, Legislative & Asst. Appellate Attorney, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  

3:00 PM

Adjourn

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Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

Health care in Vermont Prisons

• Timothy Burgess, , Impacted Former Detainee
  
• Jen Canfield, VermontJustJustice
  
• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Jonathan Ellwell, VermontJustJustice
  
• Tiffany Harrington, Impacted Former Detainee
  
• Meg McCarthy, , VermontJustJustice
  
• Leslie Thorsen, Spokesperson, VermontJustJustice
  

11:45 AM

Closing of Public Inebriation Programs

Impact on Doc Facilities

• Bob Bick, Executive Director, Howard Center
  
• Al Cormier, Chief of Operations, Department of Corrections
  
• Louis Dandurand, Medical Director of Emergency Medicine, Northwestern Medical Center
  
• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Kelly Dougherty, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health
  
• Michael Hartman, Executive Director, Lamoille County Mental Health Services
  
• Jason Wetherby, Lieutenant, Saint Albans Police Department
  

12:30 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

Competency Evaluations

• Karen Barber, General Counsel, Department of Mental Health
  
• Timothy Lueders-Dumont, Legislative & Asst. Appellate Attorney, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Stuart Schurr, General Counsel, Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living
  
• Matthew Valerio, Defender General, Defender General's Office
  
• Judge Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  

3:00 PM

Adjourn

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Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

Health care in Vermont Prisons

• Kristin Calver, Financial Director, Department of Corrections
  
• Robyn Hodges, VP of Mental health, Wellpath
  
• Annie Ramniceanu, Mental Health Systems Director, Department of Corrections
  

11:30 AM

Update on the Community Violence Prevention Program

• Kelly Dougherty, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health
  
• Jennifer Morrison, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Competency Evaluations

• Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
  
• Thomas Powell , Licensed Psychologist-Doctorate, Vermont Forensic Assessment PLLC
  
• Simha Ravven, Chief Medical Officer, Howard Center
  

1:45 PM

Committee Discussion

• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

2:30 PM

Adjourn

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Thursday, October 26, 2023

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

Status of DCF Report on Secure Placement Facility for Juveniles

• Jennifer Fitch, Commissioner, Department of Buildings and General Services
  
• Aryka Radke, Deputy Commissioner, Family Services Division, Department for Children and Families
  
• Chris Winters, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  

11:00 AM

Status of DCF Report on Secure Placement Facility for Juveniles

• Trissie Casanova, Chair of the Labor Management Committee, Department for Children and Families
  
• Steve Howard, Executive Director, Vermont State Employees Association
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Status of DCF Report on Secure Placement Facility for Juveniles

• Matthew Bernstein, Director, Office of Child, Youth and Family Advocate
  
• John Campbell, Executive Director, Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• Lauren Higbee, Deputy Advocate, Office of Child, Youth and Family Advocate
  
• Shawn Loan, Lieutenant, Vermont State Police
  

2:15 PM

Update on RDAP's work and due date of Biennial Report

• Etan Nasreddin, Chair, RDAP
  

2:30 PM

Committee Discussion

Recommendations to Legislature re:
Heath care in Prisons
Competency Evaluations
Juvenile Justice Issues

• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

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Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

Review of Home Detention Program per Act 78

• Dale Crook, Director of Field Services, Department of Corrections
  
• Isaac Dayno, Executive Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Department of Corrections
  
• Timothy Lueders-Dumont, Legislative & Asst. Appellate Attorney, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• Ben Novogroski, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Matthew Valerio, Defender General, Defender General's Office
  
• Judge Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  

11:30 AM

Review of Home Detention Policy per Act 78

Committee Discussion

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

H.222 - An act relating to reducing overdoses

Continuity of Treatment for Incarcerated People Reentering Community

• Tom Dalton, Executive Director, Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform
  
• Isaac Dayno, Executive Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Department of Corrections
  
• Andrea De La Bruere, Commissioner, Department of Vermont Health Access
  
• Jess Kirby, Director of Client Services, Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform, Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee Member
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

2:00 PM

Raise the Age and Big 12 Offenses

• Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

2:30 PM

Juvenile Justice

Committee Discussion

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Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

H.222 - An act relating to reducing overdoses

Continuity of Treatment for Incarcerated People Reentering the Community

• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Kelly Dougherty, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health
  
• Steve Howard, Executive Director, Vermont State Employees Association
  
• Stephanie Ruckman, VP of Operations-MAT, Wellpath
  

11:30 AM

Report on Community Violence Prevention Program

Per Act 23

• Kelly Dougherty, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Update on RFP and Nov Report

• Chris Winters, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  

1:30 PM

Juvenile Offenders

Efforts to establish a secure facility and court decisions

• Jennifer Fitch, Commissioner, Department of Buildings and General Services
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Chris Winters, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  

2:30 PM

Committee Discussion

Home Detention Review Letter

• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

2:45 PM

Out of State Incarceration of Vermont Prisoners

• Timothy Burgess, Director, Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants
  
• Al Cormier, Chief of Operations, Department of Corrections
  
• Stephen Finner, Racial Justice Group, Unitarian Church of Montpelier
  
• Kathy Fox, Professor, Liberal Arts in Prison Program, University of Vermont
  
• Rep. Barbara Rachelson, Sponsor of H.326, Chittenden 14
  

3:00 PM

Adjourn

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Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:25 AM

Update on Bills

• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

11:30 AM

Update on Department of Corrections

Staffing, Population report, Justice Reinvestment II

• Kristin Calver, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Al Cormier, Chief of Operations, Department of Corrections
  
• Isaac Dayno, Executive Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Department of Corrections
  
• Aviva Tevah, Executive Director of Health, Wellness and Engagement, Department of Corrections
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:10 PM

Update on Court System

• Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  

2:00 PM

Justice Reinvestment II

Funding impact

• Aimee Pope, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
  

2:30 PM

Committee Discussion

Meeting schedule, topics for future legislation

2:40 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

Act 138: Pretrial Supervision Program

Sections 4 and 10

• Al Cormier, Chief of Operations, Department of Corrections
  
• Teri Corsones, Court Administrator, Vermont Judiciary
  
• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Matthew Valerio, Defender General, Defender General's Office
  
• Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  

12:15 PM

Lunch

1:10 PM

Department of Corrections Updates

Medicaid waiver, detainee population, other updates

• Isaac Dayno, Executive Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Department of Corrections
  
• Joshua Rutherford, Operations Director, Department of Corrections
  
• Aviva Tevah, Executive Director of Health, Wellness and Engagement, Department of Corrections
  

1:20 PM

Women's and Juvenile Facility Updates

• Tyler Allen, Adolescent Services Director, Department for Children and Families, Family Services Division
  
• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Jennifer Fitch, Commissioner, Department of Buildings and General Services
  
• Tabrena Karish, Project Manager, Department of Buildings and General Services
  
• Aryka Radke, Deputy Commissioner, Family Services Division, Department for Children and Families
  
• Chris Winters, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  

2:53 PM

Act 125: Raise the Age

Background, bimonthly check in

• Matthew Bernstein, Director, Office of Child, Youth and Family Advocate
  
• Lauren Higbee, Deputy Advocate, Office of Child, Youth and Family Advocate
  
• Mike Maughan, Advocate for Vulnerable Populations in Vermont
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

3:30 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

DOC Updates and Response

2-2-3 Schedule and Calculated Leave Time

• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Travis Denton, Facility Operations Division Director, Department of Corrections
  
• Shawanda Hill, Correctional Officer I, Southern State Correctional Facility
  
• Steve Howard, Executive Director, Vermont State Employees Association
  
• Leona Watt, Chair, Legislative Committee, Vermont State Employees Association
  

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DOC Updates and Response

Labor partner petition and staff response

• Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
  
• Travis Denton, Facility Operations Division Director, Department of Corrections
  
• John Ouellet, Correctional Officer I, Northern State Correctional Facility
  
• Jeff Reynolds, Correctional Officer II, Northeast Correctional Facility
  
• Bryant Smith, Correctional Officer II, Northeast Correctional Facility
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Act 125: Raise the Age

July Report

• Tyler Allen, Adolescent Services Director, Department for Children and Families, Family Services Division
  
• Matthew Bernstein, Director, Office of Child, Youth and Family Advocate
  
• Erik FitzPatrick, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Lauren Higbee, Deputy Advocate, Office of Child, Youth and Family Advocate
  
• Timothy Lueders-Dumont, Legislative & Asst. Appellate Attorney, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• Aryka Radke, Deputy Commissioner, Family Services Division, Department for Children and Families
  
• Joshua Rutherford, Operations Director, Department of Corrections
  
• Chris Winters, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  
• Thomas Zonay, Chief Superior Judge, Vermont Judiciary
  

2:35 PM

Act 159: An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the corrections laws

Section 3, Earned time expansion review

• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Joshua Rutherford, Operations Director, Department of Corrections
  

2:50 PM

Committee Discussion

Next meeting October 16

3:10 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

Act 159: An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the corrections laws

Section 3, Earned time expansion review

• Mary Jane Ainsworth, Director, Parole Board
  
• Isaac Dayno, Executive Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Department of Corrections
  
• Christopher Lukasik, Victim Advocate, Windham County State's Attorneys
  
• Anna Nasset, Resident, Waitsfield
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Jordan Pasha, Classification Director, Department of Corrections
  
• Jennifer Poehlmann, Executive Director, Center for Crime Victim Services
  
• Kelsey Rice, Survivor, Saxtons River
  
• Joshua Rutherford, Operations Director, Department of Corrections
  

12:15 PM

H.645 - An act relating to the expansion of approaches to restorative justice

Changes to CJC funding for FY26

• Dale Crook, Director of Innovation, Department of Corrections
  
• Derek Miodownik, Restorative and Community Justice Executive, Department of Corrections
  

12:30 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

Medicaid Waiver Update

• Ashley Berliner, Director of Medicaid Policy, Department of Vermont Health Access
  
• Isaac Dayno, Executive Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Department of Corrections
  

1:45 PM

Act 159: An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the corrections laws

Sections 1 and 2

• Isaac Dayno, Executive Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Department of Corrections
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

2:25 PM

Committee Discussion

DOC Facility Staffing

• Steve Howard, Executive Director, Vermont State Employees Association
  
• Sirena Zahn, Correctional Officer II, Northern State Correctional Facility
  

3:00 PM

Adjourn

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Thursday, November 21, 2024

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:10 AM

Act 159: An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the corrections laws

Section 3, earned time expansion

• Isaac Dayno, Executive Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Department of Corrections
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Jennifer Poehlmann, Executive Director, Center for Crime Victim Services
  

11:00 AM

Department of Corrections Updates

Medication upon discharge

• Isaac Dayno, Executive Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Department of Corrections
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Aviva Tevah, Executive Director of Health, Wellness and Engagement, Department of Corrections
  
• James Ulager, Wellpath
  

11:45 AM

Pre-Trial Supervision

• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

12:00 PM

Racial Disparities in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System Update

• Etan Nasreddin-Longo, Chair, Racial Disparities in Criminal and Juvenile Justice System Advisory Panel
  

12:20 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

Update

Pre-trial diversion

• Willa Farrell, Director, Court Diversion and Pre-Trial Services
  
• Rachel Jolly, CEDO Assistant Director, Community Justice Center
  
• Timothy Lueders-Dumont, Legislative & Asst. Appellate Attorney, Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs
  
• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

2:10 PM

Raise the Age Update

• Tyler Allen, Adolescent Services Director, Department for Children and Families, Family Services Division
  
• Aryka Radke, Deputy Commissioner, Family Services Division, Department for Children and Families
  
• Chris Winters, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  

2:30 PM

Overview of Committee Mandates and Reports Due

• Benjamin Novogroski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

3:00 PM

Adjourn

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