The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
(Cite as: 13 V.S.A. § 5305)
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§ 5305. Information concerning release from custody
(a) Victims and affected persons shall have the right to request notification by the agency
having custody of the defendant before the defendant is released, including a release
on bail or conditions of release, furlough, or other community program; upon termination
or discharge from probation; or whenever the defendant escapes, is recaptured, dies,
or receives a pardon or commutation of sentence. Notice shall be given to the victim
or affected person as expeditiously as possible at the address or telephone number
provided to the agency having custody of the defendant by the person requesting notice.
Any address or telephone number so provided shall be kept confidential. The prosecutor’s
office shall ensure that victims are made aware of their right to notification of
an offender’s scheduled release date pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding this
subsection, the right to information for victims of delinquent acts is governed by
33 V.S.A. chapters 52 and 52A.
(b) If the defendant is released on conditions at arraignment, the prosecutor’s office
shall inform the victim of a listed crime of the conditions of release.
(c) If requested by a victim of a listed crime, the Department of Corrections shall:
(1) at least 30 days before a parole board hearing concerning the defendant, inform the
victim of the hearing and of the victim’s right to testify before the parole board
or to submit a written statement for the parole board to consider; and
(2) promptly inform the victim of the decision of the parole board, including providing
to the victim any conditions attached to the defendant’s release on parole. (Added 1985, No. 182 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1989, No. 290 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1995, No. 170 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1996; 2015, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2019, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 15, eff. Jan. 1, 2021; 2021, No. 160 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. June 1, 2022.)