§ 2352. Council membership
(a)(1) The Vermont Criminal Justice Council shall consist of:
(A) the Commissioners of Public Safety, of Corrections, of Motor Vehicles, of Fish and
Wildlife, and of Mental Health;
(B) the Attorney General;
(C) the Executive Director of the Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs;
(D) the Executive Director of Racial Equity;
(E) a member of the Vermont Troopers’ Association or its successor entity, elected by
its membership;
(F) a member of the Vermont Police Association, elected by its membership;
(G) a member of the Chiefs of Police Association of Vermont, appointed by the President
of the Association;
(H) a member of the Vermont Sheriffs’ Association, appointed by the President of the Association;
(I) a law enforcement officer, appointed by the President of the Vermont State Employees
Association;
(J) an employee of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, appointed by the Executive
Director of the League;
(K) an individual appointed by the Executive Director of the Center for Crime Victim Services;
(L) an individual appointed by the Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission;
(M) an individual appointed by the Executive Director of the Vermont Network Against Domestic
and Sexual Violence; and
(N) seven public members, appointed by the Governor, who shall not be law enforcement
officers or have a spouse, parent, child, or sibling who is a law enforcement officer,
current legislators, or otherwise be employed in the criminal justice system.
(i) At least one of these members shall be a mental health crisis worker.
(ii) At least one of these members shall be an individual with a lived experience of a
mental health condition or psychiatric disability.
(iii) At least two of these members shall be chosen from among persons nominated by the
Vermont chapters of the NAACP, and each of these members shall represent a different
Vermont NAACP chapter. In order to assist the Governor in making these appointments,
each Vermont chapter of the NAACP shall nominate at least three individuals for these
gubernatorial appointments.
(2) A member’s term shall be three years.
(3) The Governor shall appoint the Chair of the Council from among the members set forth
in subdivisions (1)(D) and (K)-(N) of this subsection.
(b) Membership on the Council does not constitute the holding of an office for any purpose,
and members of the Council shall not be required to take and file oaths of office
before serving on the Council.
(c) The members of the Council shall be entitled to receive per diem compensation and
reimbursement of expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A. § 1010 from monies appropriated to the Council.
(d) A member of the Council shall not be disqualified from holding any public office or
employment, and shall not forfeit any office or employment, by reason of his or her
appointment to the Council, notwithstanding any statute, ordinance, or charter to
the contrary. (Added 1967, No. 189, § 2, eff. April 17, 1967; amended 1971, No. 120, § 46(a); 1973, No. 225 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1979, No. 57, § 2; 1983, No. 72; 2003, No. 119 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2013, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2017, No. 56, § 1; 2019, No. 166 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. Dec. 1, 2020.)