Matt Valerio Archives - VTDigger

A man in a suit stands facing a woman who is gesturing, while another person in the foreground points toward them in a courtroom setting.

This justice system experiment has seen little use in Vermont. Will lawmakers expand it?

by Charlotte Oliver February 16, 2026, 5:01 pmFebruary 17, 2026, 1:32 pm

A courtroom scene with a lawyer standing and speaking, a judge seated at the bench, and several people seated at tables and in the gallery.

As pilot program sunsets in Burlington, lawmakers look to bring ‘accountability court’ elsewhere

by Charlotte Oliver February 11, 2026, 6:31 pmFebruary 12, 2026, 11:59 am

A wooden chair sits next to a closed wooden door in a courtroom, with empty jury seats and a wooden railing in the foreground.

Government & Politics

‘A real problem for our democracy’: Vermont Supreme Court forms commission to look at legal deserts

by Charlotte Oliver October 29, 2025, 6:51 am

A man with short, light brown hair and a beard is wearing a blue suit, light blue shirt, and beige tie, standing outdoors with trees and a shed in the background.

Government & Politics

Gov. Phil Scott names prosecutor for new Burlington court

by Charlotte Oliver October 17, 2025, 6:55 am

A city square with trees, pedestrians, parked bicycles, and surrounding buildings under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Government & Politics

Gov. Phil Scott announces new Chittenden County court for repeat offenders

by Charlotte Oliver October 10, 2025, 3:57 pmOctober 10, 2025, 6:01 pm

A view through a glass door marked "REC" into a hallway with a yellow cleaning cart, white walls, and another door labeled "BOOKING.

Sleeping on floors, a transfer to Mississippi: How Vermont is coping with prison overcrowding

by Ethan Weinstein September 19, 2025, 12:08 pmSeptember 19, 2025, 1:29 pm

Exterior of a correctional facility showing a concrete wall topped with barbed wire, a sign at the entrance, and security cameras.

Sheriff’s deputies will no longer provide rides for people released from Vermont prison

by Ethan Weinstein August 21, 2025, 5:18 pmAugust 21, 2025, 5:18 pm

Two women are standing in a hallway facing reporters holding microphones and cameras. The setting appears to be an indoors public building or office space.

Government & Politics

Final Reading: Defender general warns public defenders are harder and harder to hire

by Ethan Weinstein January 23, 2025, 6:30 pmJanuary 24, 2025, 9:58 am

A person sits on a chair in a room, looking at a large screen mounted on the wall. Another person stands nearby.

‘Wait, that’s not me’: Lawyers say remote court hearings can threaten integrity of Vermont’s justice system

by Ethan Weinstein January 13, 2025, 1:22 pmJanuary 13, 2025, 3:34 pm

Government & Politics

Critics say Phil Scott’s budget proposal, which would force cuts to prosecutors, undermines public safety agenda

by Shaun Robinson February 15, 2024, 6:57 pmOctober 25, 2024, 12:05 am

A man in a suit and tie.

Defender general’s investigation finds medical staff failures, ‘boy who cried wolf’ culture in Springfield prison death case

by Ethan Weinstein January 26, 2024, 5:40 pmOctober 21, 2024, 1:57 pm

A cream-colored sign with green text for the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital.

2 of every 3 beds empty as state psychiatric hospital tackles doctor transitions, staffing costs

by Kristen Fountain September 8, 2023, 6:03 am

Chittenden County, Public Safety

Competency hearing dispute lands mental health commissioner in contempt of court

by Kristen Fountain May 24, 2023, 6:46 pmMay 24, 2023, 6:46 pm

Barbed wire fence with metal posts, set against an overcast sky.

The Department of Corrections will end its work crew program. Prosecutors are not pleased.

by Ethan Weinstein May 15, 2023, 5:56 pmMay 15, 2023, 5:56 pm