Bill Sorrell, the Vermont attorney general, is inviting the public to participate in a series of three forums on whether Vermont “should reduce its reliance on incarceration as a response to criminal conduct?”
The forums will be held in White River Junction, Rutland and Burlington.
Sorrell says he wants to know if Vermonters want the Legislature to commit to a statewide policy regarding sentencing and release decisions that reduce reliance on state prisons.
The cost to society of incarceration, he says, are high.
According to a fact sheet from the AG’s office, Vermont’s incarcerated population is up 300 percent since 1974, while the general population has increased by 35 percent over the same period. Prison expenditures have increased 2,000 percent over the past 40 years.
Many prisoners are pre-trial detainees or have been held beyond the minimum release date. More than 6,000 children have a parent who is in prison.
Representatives from law enforcement, corrections and human services officials, prisoner rights groups, victim advocates, and others will join the attorney general at the following forums:
5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, White River Junction. Selectboard Room, 171 Bridge St., First Floor, Room 1
7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, Rutland. Fox Room at Rutland Free Library, 10 Court St.
5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, Burlington. Burlington City Hall, Contois Auditorium, 149 Church St.
Persons unable to attend a forum are welcome to submit comments to: ago.incarcerationpriorities@vermont.gov by Dec. 18.
