Facing a criminal charge in Vermont

Bond and pretrial release in Vermont

Chapter II Section 40 of the Vermont Constitution bars excessive bail and provides a right to bail in most cases. 13 V.S.A. Sec. 7553 through 7560 govern bail. 13 V.S.A. Sec. 7554 directs the court to release the defendant on personal recognizance or unsecured appearance bond unless that will not reasonably assure appearance, in which case the least restrictive monetary or non-monetary conditions may be ordered. 13 V.S.A. Sec. 7554a provides for prompt bail review hearings. 13 V.S.A. Sec. 7553a authorizes the court to hold a defendant without bail for certain violent felonies subject to a clear and convincing evidence standard. Vermont enacted Act 153 (2018) further restricting cash bail for low-level offenses.

Bond amounts, conditions, and timelines vary by county and judge. Confirm with counsel or the court.

Criminal defense attorneys serving Vermont

Our directory is still building in Vermont. Public-defender intake is available now.

Record clearing in Vermont

Vermont expungement and sealing is governed by 13 V.S.A. chapter 230 (sections 7601 through 7607). The statute provides petition-based pathways for both expungement and sealing of eligible criminal records, with offense-specific waiting periods and eligibility criteria. The statute provides expungement and sealing waiting periods of five years for many misdemeanors and ten years for eligible felonies after completion of sentence, with shorter periods for non-conviction records; listed violent crimes under 13 V.S.A. 5301 and sex offenses are largely excluded. The petition is filed in the criminal division of the superior court of conviction.

Eligibility, waiting periods, and the petition vs. automatic pathway depend on the conviction class and the date of the offense. Confirm with counsel or the court record.

Public defender intake in Vermont

Office of the Defender General serves STATEWIDE County. Public defenders are appointed by the court based on financial eligibility. We do not refer you to a specific public defender and we do not represent you.

Public defenders are appointed by the court based on financial eligibility. LawSensai does not refer you to a public defender and does not represent you. This packet is a courtesy summary you can share with your public defender or their intake staff. You remain responsible for applying to the court for appointed counsel.