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: 28 V.S.A. § 128)
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§ 128. Incarcerated parents and guardians; Family Support Program
(a) Family Support Program. The Department of Corrections shall establish the Family Support Program to provide
free parenting and family support at each correctional facility to all incarcerated
individuals who are parents and guardians regardless of gender. The Program shall
include individualized services and programming intended to provide:
(1) increased knowledge and skill for incarcerated parents and guardians to address the
specific needs of their children;
(2) resources to incarcerated parents and guardians to engage in needs-specific planning
and communication strategies with their children and their children’s caregivers;
(3) child-friendly visitation spaces, in consultation with the Department, for in-person
and virtual visits between parents or guardians and their children, including establishing
safety protocol;
(4) outreach and coordination with appropriate services for the children of incarcerated
parents and guardians and the children’s caregivers;
(5) improved cross-system coordination and collaboration to deliver necessary services
to the families of incarcerated parents and guardians; and
(6) reentry support and preparation for incarcerated parents and guardians.
(b) Program support. The Department may support the operation of the Family Support Program established
pursuant to this section through grants of financial assistance to, or contracts for
services with, any nonprofit entity that meets the Department’s requirements.
(c) Annual report. Annually, on or before July 1, the Department shall submit a written report to the
House Committees on Corrections and Institutions and on Judiciary and the Senate Committees
on Institutions and on Judiciary concerning:
(1) the funding, participation, and outcomes of the services and programming established
pursuant to this section; and
(2) considerations and any progress towards sustained statewide programming and gender
parity. (Added 2025, No. 64, § 33, eff. June 12, 2025.)