Vermont Criminal Records

Criminal activities in Vermont are often intercepted by law enforcement agencies, leading to arrests, detention, trial, or even a jail sentence, and these interactions are recorded as criminal records.

A criminal record in Vermont is an exhaustive compilation of a person's criminal history that is gathered and recorded by the state's criminal justice system through a variety of agencies, including local courts, law enforcement agencies (like police departments and sheriff's offices), the Vermont State Police, and municipal police departments.

The central repository for all criminal record data produced by the state's criminal justice agencies is the Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC). The Vermont Criminal Information Center (VCIC) compiles and authenticates arrest, prosecution, sentencing, and correctional data from several agencies into a criminal history format that tracks an individual's interactions with the state's legal system.

In Vermont, law enforcement agencies can benefit from using criminal records when conducting investigations, identifying suspects, and making decisions during criminal processes. Employers, landlords, and other organizations may utilize criminal records in background checks to determine a person's fitness for a job, rental property, or other opportunities.

Are Criminal Records Public in Vermont?

Absolutely. The Vermont Statutes state that criminal records are public documents even though access may be limited. However, the organization holding the record is required by law to permit inspection or retrieval of the information, provided that the request complies with state statutes.

There are a few general exceptions that deal with public record access, such as:

• Documents that are legally classified as confidential or with a comparable phrase;
• Documents that the law restricts access to only a specified group of people;
• Documents that, should they be made public, would force the custodian to transgress properly established codes of ethics or behavior for any state-regulated profession;
• Records about the detection and investigation of criminal activity, but only to the extent that it would be reasonable to anticipate that their production would impede enforcement actions, deny someone their right to a fair trial or an unbiased decision-maker, or constitute an unjustified invasion of personal privacy, among other reasons.

However, the regulations governing the Vermont Crime Information Centre's (VCIC) distribution of criminal history data are expressly provided for in the state's statutes. These laws also control who can access such records, including people, agencies, and the general public. For example, provisions for access by criminal justice agencies, researchers, and individuals' personal records are created under 20 VSA § 2056a, 20 VSA § 2056b, and 20 VSA § 2056f, respectively.

Vermont Crime Records by County

In Vermont, public websites (usually those of law enforcement agencies) provide easy access to crime records. These records are often created and published online once a year or through interactive platforms.

The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, a state and federal criminal justice data collection program overseen by the FBI, is administered by the Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC) in the state. This program aims to gather information about crimes that have been reported to the police in all counties and cities. All statewide law enforcement agencies provide data on reported crimes, which is gathered, edited, and analyzed by VCIC. By reporting per the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), agencies give this information.

VCIC gathers, compiles, and audits NIBRS data. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Crime Data Explorer (CDE) is powered by information sourced from the NIBRS data with state and federal analytical and statistical data available on this publicly accessible website. Through the VCIC website, interested parties can visit the UCR interactive website and perform a search based on county, state, or federal statistics. Additionally, the VCIC website has sections where users can peruse crime reports according to the year, going all the way back to 1997.

Furthermore, some law enforcement agencies within each county maintain an official website where the public can access arrest and crime data and reports. For instance, the Town of Bennington Police Department has some traffic data available to the public on its official website.

Vermont Criminal Record Check

Vermont residents can obtain a criminal background check at the state or county level by contacting the Vermont Crime Information Centre (VCIC) or the local law enforcement authorities in their respective counties. One can check the criminal record of another individual or their own notarized/ordinary copy. The procedures to follow while using VCIC to perform a criminal record check are as follows:

• For a walk-in request, the applicant must provide two forms of identification, each from the primary and secondary list as outlined on the official website, and a $30 record check fee per copy. All in-person requests should be conducted during business days between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm at the Vermont Crime Information Center's main office in Waterbury, VT.
• To make written requests, applicants must fill out the "Request for Personal Criminal Record Check" and "Notary" forms, sign the record subject/applicant, and include a $30 cashier's check or money order along with a raised seal (unless otherwise specified in a memo). Please mail all of them to:

Criminal Records Section

Vermont Crime Information Center

45 State Drive

Waterbury, VT 05671-1300

The Vermont Conviction Report (VCCRIS) website is where applicants can request notarized records or belonging to other people. Keep in mind that a $30 fee in addition to a search criterion consisting of Name and Date of Birth would be necessary. An instantaneous result of this search would be available for viewing or printing on the applicant's PC.

Lastly, interested parties can either go in person to the local sheriff's office or police department within the jurisdiction of interest, or they can visit the official website of the relevant law enforcement agency, where most of them include contact details or an access portal for making criminal record requests.

Find Criminal Records Online in Vermont

The Vermont Crime Information Centre (VCIC) provides online access to record subjects and other interested parties via the Vermont Conviction Report (VCCRIS) Website. The primary and most dependable method for obtaining criminal records online is through this method; requesters should be aware that there are choices, such as visiting third-party websites, which are not always reputable.

Free Criminal Record Search in Vermont

In Vermont, a criminal record check is usually not free. Therefore, this information could not be available to the public. On the other hand, a name-based search on many third-party websites can provide access to free criminal record information; however, this kind of search can only offer a limited amount of information, and requesting a more thorough report would incur additional fees.

What Does it Mean if You Have a Criminal Record in Vermont?

In Vermont, having a criminal record can have severe ramifications and effects that impact a person's life in many ways, including job prospects, housing options, professional licensing, educational chances, voting rights, social stigma, gun ownership, and more.

Vermont has rules pertaining to background checks that regulate access to records and disclosure of information. For instance, a 2016 law called "Ban the Box" prohibits companies from asking about a job applicant's prior criminal history in the first section of an employment application.

Furthermore, the Vermont Code's 21 VSA § 495j labor legislation promotes fair employment practices, and the Vermont Criminal History Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act impact what is discovered during a background check in Vermont.

Does Your Criminal Record Clear After 7 Years in Vermont?

No, a criminal record remains active in Vermont even after 7 years. The length of time a criminal record remains on an individual's record varies depending on the specifics of the record, as stipulated by the Vermont Statutes, which govern the sealing and expungement of criminal records. If not, records are kept forever.

Only when the requirements are satisfied are criminal records sealed or erased. For example, if, following a final disposition, it is determined that an arrested person is innocent of all charges, the arrest record will be sealed within 60 days. However, under section 13 VSA § 7602, a convicted individual may apply for expungement after five years of being free, provided that all requirements are satisfied.

Arrest Record Vs Criminal Record

In Vermont, an "arrest record" provides an official account of an individual’s apprehension or incarceration, but a "criminal record" contains formal charges and convictions. An arrest in Vermont does not always result in charges or convictions for crimes. Since an arrest record does not prove guilt, it might not significantly affect employment or other factors. On the other hand, a criminal record and convictions can greatly impact your legal status and employment opportunities. Vermont's legal system emphasizes the assumption of innocence until proven guilty. Yet, a criminal record may still impact court decisions, punishment, and public perception, highlighting the significance of having legal representation and being aware of one's rights.

Vermont Police Records

In Vermont, the public has general access to police records. Arrests, incident reports, and other law enforcement actions are all included in these records. Since they frequently contain information like witness testimonies, investigative notes, and internal police correspondence, they may differ from normal criminal records because they offer a more thorough account of situations.

In Vermont, requests for police records are accepted online or by letter sent to the Vermont State Police. These records are regarded as public records. The Vermont Statues Annotated Title 1, Chapter 5, Subchapter 3 contains the Vermont Access to Public Records Act, which grants access to public records. Additionally, the Act includes particular exemptions from open inspection.