2011 Vermont Code
Title 13 Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Chapter 169 VERMONT SENTENCING COMMISSION
§ 5452 Duties

§ 5452. Duties

(a) In addition to the general responsibilities set forth in section 5451 of this title, the commission shall:

(1) Report on historical and existing sentencing practices in Vermont, including the frequency and duration of incarcerative and nonincarcerative sentences for particular offenses.

(2) Report on geographical sentencing disparities which result in a defendant's sentence for an offense varying substantially on the basis of the county in which it is committed.

(3) Propose a system of statewide discretionary sentencing ranges which take into account historical and existing sentencing practices and establish rational and consistent statewide sentencing standards.

(4) Review alternatives to the traditional prosecutorial model and make recommendations for alternative sentencing methods to the general assembly.

(5) Review practices involving probation, parole, early or conditional release, pre-approved furlough, supervised community sentence, graduated sanctions, and the awarding of sentencing credits, and make recommendations concerning such practices to the department of corrections and the general assembly.

(6) Review developments in criminal law, including statutory modifications and judicial decisions, and make recommendations to the general assembly when the commission determines that legislative changes are advisable.

(7) Review proposed legislation and make recommendations concerning the proposals to the general assembly.

(8) Consider any other issue the commission finds relevant to criminal sentencing and the criminal justice system.

(b) The commission shall report its activities and recommendations, including any proposals for legislative action, to the general assembly and the governor no later than December 1, 2007, and no later than December 1 of each year thereafter. (Added 2005, No. 192 (Adj. Sess.), { 16, eff. May 26, 2006.)