Vermont § 5101a - Juvenile justice legislative findings

§ 5101a. Juvenile justice legislative findings

• (a) The General Assembly finds and declares as public policy that an effective juvenile
  justice system protects public safety; connects youths and young adults to age-appropriate
  services that reduce the risk of reoffense; and, when appropriate, shields youths
  from the adverse impact of a criminal record. (b) In order to accomplish these goals, the system should be based on the implementation
  of data-driven evidence-based practices that offer a broad range of alternatives,
  such that the degree of intervention is commensurate with the risk of reoffense. (c) High-intensity interventions with low-risk offenders not only decrease program effectiveness,
  but are contrary to the goal of public safety in that they increase the risk of recidivism.
  An effective youth justice system includes pre-charge options that keep low-risk offenders
  out of the criminal justice system altogether. (Added 2017, No. 201 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)