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Terms Used In Vermont Statutes Title 28 Sec. 251

  • Commissioner: means the Commissioner of Corrections. See
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Fees: shall mean earnings due for official services, aside from salaries or per diem compensation. See
  • following: when used by way of reference to a section of the law shall mean the next preceding or following section. See
  • Justice: when applied to a person, other than a Justice of the Supreme Court, shall mean a justice of the peace for the county for which he or she is elected or appointed. See
  • Person: shall include any natural person, corporation, municipality, the State of Vermont or any department, agency, or subdivision of the State, and any partnership, unincorporated association, or other legal entity. See
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • probation: means a procedure under which a respondent, found guilty of a crime upon verdict or plea, is released by the court, without confinement, subject to conditions imposed by the court and subject to the supervision of the Commissioner. See
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.

§ 251. Duration of probation

(a) The court placing a person on probation may terminate the period of probation and discharge the person at any time if such termination is warranted by the conduct of the offender and the ends of justice.

(b)(1) Upon the Commissioner‘s motion to discharge pursuant to subsection 252(d) of this title, the sentencing court shall terminate the period of probation and discharge the person at the midpoint of the probation term unless the prosecutor seeks a continuation of probation within 21 days following receipt of notice of the Commissioner’s motion, and:

(A) the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that termination and discharge will present a risk of danger to the victim of the offense or to the community; or

(B) the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the probationer is not substantially in compliance with the conditions of probation that are related to the probationer’s rehabilitation or to victim or community safety.

(2) If the court grants the prosecutor’s motion to continue probation, it may continue probation for the full term or any portion thereof. The court shall also review the conditions of probation and remove any conditions that are no longer necessary for the remainder of the term.

(3) Notwithstanding 1 V.S.A. § 214, this subsection shall apply retroactively to any probationer serving a specified term of probation.

(c) A probationer shall not be deemed ineligible for discharge or term reduction due to unpaid restitution, fees, or surcharges. (Added 1971, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 20; amended 2021, No. 24, § 3; 2021, No. 94 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 21, 2022.)