Senate advances bill to standardize and expand pre‑charge restorative justice programs

Lawmakers described H645 as a stabilizing bill to expand and standardize pre‑charge restorative justice in Vermont. The bill requires states' attorneys to adopt publicly available policies governing pre‑charge diversion, codifies rights and responsibilities for those who harmed and those harmed, shifts grant authority for pre‑charge diversion to the attorney general's office, and mandates annual data collection and a study to explore funding stabilization and unified access.

Supporters said restorative justice programs reduce recidivism and that the current landscape is a ‘‘patchwork’’ with inconsistent local practices. The bill preserves community referrals and does not mandate specific program content; it requires reporting by the attorney general and reaffirms local discretion. The Senate Judiciary and Finance committees reviewed fiscal and implementation issues; the Senate ordered 3rd reading and passed H645.