Vermont Department of Corrections

The Vermont Department of Corrections is an executive agency of the U.S. state of Vermont charged with overseeing correctional facilities, supervising probation and parolees, and serving in an advisory capacity in the prevention of crime and juvenile delinquency. It is a part of the Vermont Agency of Human Services.[2]

Vermont Department of Corrections
Seal
AbbreviationVDOC
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionVermont, USA
Map of Vermont Department of Corrections's jurisdiction.
Size9,620 square miles (24,900 km2)
Population621,270 (2008 est.)[1]
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersWaterbury, Vermont, USA
Parent agencyVermont Agency of Human Services
Website
VT DOC Website

The agency is headquartered at the Waterbury State Office Complex in Waterbury.[3][4][5]

Jim Baker was named interim Commissioner of the Department of Corrections at the end of December 2019 by Agency of Human Services Secretary Mike Smith.[6][7] Micharl Touchette, the pervious commissioner, stepped down in December 2019 amidst allegations of misconduct by corrections staff.[8][9][10]

State prison facilities

As of 2018 the Department of Corrections manages the operations of six prison facilities within the state. There were 2,202 prisoners in the system in 2007.[11]

Name Location Prisoners Gender
Northern State Correctional FacilityNewport
440
Male
Chittenden Regional Correctional FacilitySouth Burlington
160
Female
Marble Valley Regional Correctional FacilityRutland
127
Male
Northeast Regional Correctional FacilitySt. Johnsbury
175
Male
Northwest State Correctional FacilitySwanton[12]
238
Male
Southern State Correctional FacilitySpringfield
353
Male

The State of Vermont's former Dale Women's Facility in Waterbury closed in early 2009.[13] State officials were considering closing its Caledonia Community Work Camp in St. Johnsbury, adjacent to the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility, in March 2016 because of underpopulation.[14]

While security is handled by state employees, services, such as health services, have been contracted out.[15] There are 600 corrections officers.[16]

Vermont contracted with Corrections Corporation of America to house inmates in out-of-state private prisons beginning in the mid-1990s, and has continued the practice.[17] About 500 prisoners are held outside the state of Vermont. These prisoners cost half as much as the prisoners in state because of the economies of scale in larger prisons, and because only healthy prisoners are exported.[18]

In the past, Vermont had prisoners at the Lee Adjustment Center in Beattyville, Kentucky[19] (now closed), and at the Florence Correctional Center in Florence, Arizona, both CCA properties. The State of Vermont also formally contracted with the GEO Group and transferred out-of-state prisoners to the North Lake Correctional Facility in Michigan.[20]

The State of Vermont now contracts with CoreCivic to house inmates out of state at Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility in Mississippi.

Probation and parole offices

There are 13 community-based probation and parole offices throughout Vermont. These are under the administrative jurisdiction of the department. The offices are located in Barre, Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Chelsea (sub-office in Hartford District), Hartford, Middlebury (sub-office to Rutland), Morrisville, Newport, Rutland, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, and Springfield.[21]

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the Vermont Department of Corrections, two officers have died in the line of duty.[22]

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See also

References
  1. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 9, 2009. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  2. State of Vermont website accessed January 11, 2008
  3. "Contact the Vermont Department of Corrections." Vermont Department of Corrections. Retrieved on February 24, 2020.
  4. "Waterbury State Office Complex." Vermont Department of Corrections. Retrieved on February 24, 2020.
  5. "About the Department of Corrections." Vermont Department of Corrections. Retrieved on February 24, 2020. "A map showing where the Department of Corrections Central Office is in the Waterbury State Office complex."
  6. Nathan, Luke; Banner, Bennington. "Baker, former VSP chief, named interim corrections leader". The Bennington Banner. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  7. Heintz, Paul. "Law Enforcement Veterans Tapped to Lead Corrections Department, Investigation". Seven Days. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  8. Jan 7 2020January 7, Alan J. Keays; Footnote, 2020 | One Reader (2020-01-07). "AHS leader briefs House panel on women's prison probe, reform proposals". VTDigger. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  9. Heintz, Paul. "Tip of the Iceberg: More Trouble at the Vermont Department of Corrections". Seven Days. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  10. Associated Press (Dec 18, 2019). "Vermont Corrections Chief Quits Amid Scrutiny of Prisons". U.S. News. Retrieved Jan 20, 2020.
  11. State of Vermont website accessed January 11, 2008
  12. (St. Albans)
  13. Corcoran, Michael (24 April 2008). "Waterbury worries about closing Dale prison facility". Stowe Today. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  14. Burbank, April (14 March 2016). "Why Vermont could close St. Johnsbury prison work camp". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  15. "Editorial: Open government can't be privatized". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. 2 September 2010. pp. 11A.
  16. Local men graduate from corrections officer school. the Chronicle. September 12, 2007.
  17. Krantz, Laura (21 January 2014). "Vermont inmates on lockdown at Kentucky prison". Vermont Digger. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  18. Gresser, Joseph (June 4, 2008). State outlines new prison policy. the Chronicle.
  19. Davis, Mark (2 December 2015). "Vermont Inmates Pine for Their Old Kentucky Prison". Seven Days. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  20. "Inmates Housed Out of State." Vermont Department of Corrections. Retrieved on December 6, 2015.
  21. "Probation and Parole Offices — Department of Corrections". https://doc.vermont.gov/. External link in |website= (help)
  22. "Vermont Department of Corrections, VT". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP).
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