VT S0186

Juvenile offenders charged with serious offenses in Criminal Division may elect to enter a plea agreement to a lesser offense and remain in Criminal Division, rather than having the case transferred to Family Division

Applies to offenders under 19 years of age upon passage, expanding to under 20 years of age on July 2, 2027

Criminal Division retains jurisdiction when a juvenile chooses this plea agreement option for offenses not specified in subsection 5204(a) or subdivision 5201(c)(2) or (3)

Amends 33 V.S.A. § 5201 (commencement of delinquency proceedings) and § 5203 (transfer from other courts) to create the new election procedure

Sections 1 and 2 take effect upon passage; Sections 3 and 4 (raising age threshold to 20) take effect July 2, 2027