§ 701b. Classification of persons or defendants

(a) When a defendant or person in a civil or criminal action is sentenced to the custody of the Commissioner or committed to the Commissioner’s custody pending a prosecution on a misdemeanor charge or for sentencing, the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee shall within five days of sentencing or commitment, excluding weekends and holidays, classify the person to determine whether he or she shall be incarcerated, held at a community work camp, or furloughed. Failure to classify within the five-day period shall not create a private right of action against the State, its political subdivisions, or its employees.

(b) Notwithstanding 13 V.S.A. § 7554, the Commissioner may place on furlough under provisions of section 808 of this title, a misdemeanor defendant when the Commissioner, based upon a completed classification, has determined that the defendant is likely to appear in court as directed. If the Commissioner places such a defendant on furlough, the Commissioner shall impose not only the conditions of release initially ordered by the judicial officer, but also such additional terms or conditions deemed necessary to ensure that the defendant will appear in court. The Commissioner shall supervise compliance with all such conditions imposed. (Added 1995, No. 185 (Adj. Sess.), § 49, eff. May 22, 1996; 2009, No. 33, § 50.)