Vermont Statutes Title 28 Sec. 551a
Terms Used In Vermont Statutes Title 28 Sec. 551a
- Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
- Commissioner: means the Commissioner of Corrections. See
- Correctional officer: means any person who is an employee of the Department of Corrections whose official duties or job classification includes the supervision or monitoring of a person on parole, probation, or serving any sentence of incarceration whether inside or outside a correctional facility, and who has received training, as approved by the Commissioner of Corrections, as provided in section 551a of this title. See
- Department: means the Department of Corrections. 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
- Law: includes the laws and ordinances of the State, its political subdivisions, and municipalities. See
- Law enforcement officer: means a State Police officer, a sheriff, a deputy sheriff, a municipal police officer, a constable, the Commissioner, or a member of the Department of Corrections when appointed in writing by the Commissioner and when his or her appointment is filed in the Office of the Secretary of State. See
- Parole: means the release of an inmate to the community by the Parole Board before the end of the inmate's sentence subject to conditions imposed by the Board and subject to the supervision and control of the Commissioner. 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.
- sworn: shall include affirmed. See
§ 551a. Law enforcement powers of correctional officers; training requirements
(a) The Commissioner of Corrections shall establish training requirements necessary for a correctional officer to be authorized to exercise the power to arrest a person on probation under section 301 of this title, to arrest a person serving supervised community sentence under section 363 of this title, or to arrest a person on parole under section 551 of this title. The required training shall include training in search and seizure, criminal law, authority to arrest, use of force, reporting and record keeping, and liability for actions and conduct.
(b) The Commissioner may also authorize and designate any correctional officer as defined in subdivision 3(10) of this title to become certified by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council as a law enforcement officer pursuant to the provisions of 20 Vt. Stat. Ann. chapter 151. The Commissioner and the Executive Director of the Vermont Criminal Justice Council shall develop curriculum subject to the approval of the Council. The Commissioner by Department policy may prescribe the use of those law enforcement powers consistent with the official duties and job descriptions of the correctional officer, and may direct that the correctional officer not carry any weapon while on duty. Any person hereby certified shall be sworn by the Commissioner. (Added 1997, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 2013, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 21, eff. July 1, 2015.)