VT H0540

Courts may refer offenders who plead guilty to nonviolent felonies or misdemeanors to the Restorative Justice Program as a sentence or probation condition, without requiring probation for the referral

Offenders must return to court for further sentencing if the reparative board does not accept the case or if the offender fails to complete the program satisfactorily

Courts must consider six factors when ordering program participation: party agreement, victim views, community impact, offender willingness, offender capacity to participate, and any protection orders between offender and victim

The Court Administrator must create standardized referral forms for use in all Vermont courts, and the Supreme Court may adopt procedural rules to implement the program

Effective date: July 1, 2026