VermontArresting officers must quickly seek temporary release decisions
Since July 2, 2026, officers who arrest someone without a warrant must quickly give a judicial officer sworn information to help decide temporary release.
What it does
After an arrest without a warrant, the officer must contact a judicial officer without unnecessary delay to decide on temporary release and provide sworn information about the planned charges.
Argument forQuick contact and sworn information could help judges decide on temporary release without unnecessary delay after an arrest.
Argument againstA judge may consider charges prosecutors plan to file and release conditions they request, which could affect a person's temporary release decision before charges are filed.
More detail
An arresting officer must contact a judicial officer to decide whether the arrested person may be temporarily released. This applies when a law enforcement officer arrests someone without a warrant. The officer must provide an affidavit or sworn statement and information the judicial officer can use to make the decision. The statement must identify the crimes the officer plans to charge. Procedures set by the presiding judge may require the statement to include charges the prosecutor plans to file and any release conditions the prosecutor requests, including bail or holding the person without bail. The law took effect on July 2, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 29House message: Governor approved bill on April 27, 2026Latest
- Apr 28Signed by Governor Phil Scott on April 27, 2026Became Law
- Apr 21Delivered to Governor on April 21, 2026To Governor
- Apr 16Senate Message: Passed in concurrenceMajor
- Apr 15Read 3rd time & passed in concurrencePassed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 15New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- Apr 14Reported favorably by Senator Hashim for Committee on Judiciary, read 2nd time and 3rd reading orderedMinor
- Apr 14Favorable report by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Apr 14Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 10Favorable report by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Apr 10Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 10Entered on Notice Calendar
- Mar 17Read 1st time & referred to Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 12Read third time and passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 12Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 11Third Reading orderedMinor
- Mar 11Report of Committee on Judiciary agreed to
- Mar 11Rep. LaLonde of South Burlington reported for the Committee on Judiciary
- Mar 11Read second timeMinor
- Mar 11Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Mar 10Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Jan 22Read first time and referred to the Committee on JudiciaryIntroduced
Criminal Justice