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Vermont H.55 Is "Important Advancement in Justice"

February 17, 2017

By Robert Sand, Assistant Professor of Law

"I was very pleased to see that H.55, a bill that guarantees public defense services to all needy people who were 25 or under at the time of their alleged offense, passed the Vermont House yesterday. This bill rejects the notion that some criminal charges are not "serious" for young people. All charges are serious and can have devastating direct and collateral consequences. This bill is an important advancement in justice. Thank you to the Committee Chair Rep. Maxine Grad and the entire House Judiciary Committee for your support and to Rep. Janssen Willhoit for reporting this bill. On to the Senate.”