Vermont Senate passes bill adding prosecutor notice and reevaluation rights in competency and insanity cases
The Bennington Banner reported that S.3, an act relating to competency to stand trial and insanity as a defense, awaited Gov. Phil Scott's signature after unanimous Senate passage. Prosecutors would get at least 10 days' notice before people found incompetent or acquitted by reason of insanity are moved to less secure facilities or released, up from notice only for releases within 90 days, and could ask a court to order a new competency evaluation.
The bill also set up a forensic care working group to find gaps, weigh forensic treatment facility needs and look at other states' models. State's Attorney Erica Marthage said prosecutors had lacked visibility into treatment progress, and the mother of a woman killed in January 2021 backed the bill.
The story captures the reform that began Vermont's years-long debate over a secure forensic facility.
Source: Bill gives prosecutors more oversight of defendants with mental health issues — Bennington Banner, by Tiffany Tan
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