The Vermont Statutes Online
The Vermont Statutes Online does not include the actions of the 2024 session of the General Assembly. We expect them to be updated by November 1st.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Title 13 : Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Chapter 019 : Breach of the Peace; Disturbances
Subchapter 004 : Other Disturbances of the Peace
(Cite as: 13 V.S.A. § 1032)-
§ 1032. Law enforcement use of chokeholds
(a) As used in this section:
(1) “Law enforcement officer” has the same meaning as in 20 V.S.A. § 2351a.
(2) “Chokehold” means the use of any maneuver on a person that employs a lateral vascular neck restraint, carotid restraint, or other action that applies any pressure to the throat, windpipe, or neck in a manner that limits the person’s breathing or blood flow.
(3) “Serious bodily injury” has the same meaning as in section 1021 of this title.
(b) A law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s capacity as law enforcement who employs a chokehold on a person in violation of 20 V.S.A. § 2368(c)(6) that causes serious bodily injury to or death of the person shall be imprisoned for not more than 20 years or fined not more than $50,000.00, or both. (Added 2019, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. Oct. 1, 2020; amended 2021, No. 27, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2021.)
