VT S0140

Incarcerated individuals may petition for sentence reduction after serving 10 years or 50% of a sentence of at least 5 years, whichever is shorter, with courts considering rehabilitation, age at offense, mental/physical health, and other factors in determining whether to grant relief.

Courts must presume sentence reduction to time served for petitioners with serious medical conditions causing major limitations in daily activities, and presume at least 20% reduction for those found not to pose significant community risk.

A new compassionate release process allows incarcerated individuals to petition for early release if they have a terminal illness with 18 months or less life expectancy, an incurable progressive illness causing severe physical limitations, or are 65+ with chronic health conditions and pose no public safety danger.

Parole eligibility expands to require parole for low-risk offenders who are 55-64 years old and have served 10 years, or who are 65+ and have served 5 years, unless they have unfulfilled programming requirements or major disciplinary violations in the past 12 months.

The second look sentencing provisions apply retroactively to sentences imposed before the July 1, 2025 effective date.