Criminal Justice & Public Safety

A $3 million renovation of the Essex County courthouse is on pause after an inspection determined municipal water pressure wasn’t strong enough to support the fire suppression system.

Vermont State Police are investigating the death of a 68-year-old man at the state prison in Springfield. Authorities say the death does not appear suspicious.

A court-ordered evaluation determined that Jason Eaton, the man accused of shooting three Palestinian college students in Burlington two years ago, is competent to stand trial. Eaton’s attorneys have hired their own expert to conduct an evaluation.

Sarah Hunter, 32, was found dead in Pawlet nearly 40 years ago. The case went unresolved until David Morrison confessed to the crime last summer.

Commissioner Peg Flory claims she and her colleagues were not informed about the details of an internal investigation that found mistakes by Rutland City police officers were "direct contributing factors" in a vehicle crash that killed 19-year-old trainee Jessica Ebbighausen.

Vermont law requires the court to appoint a guardian ad litem whenever the Department for Children and Families tries to take a child into its custody. The judiciary says the state could use more people to fill that role.

Federal prosecutors filed notice on Tuesday that they’d seek the death penalty against a Stowe man accused of killing two Massachusetts men in 2023.

The Spark, a St. Johnsbury-based service, offers support and resources to people who’ve caused harm, or are at risk of causing harm, in their relationships.

A program that has offered parental support services to incarcerated mothers will soon be available to men held at the state prison in Newport.

Now entering its third week, the new court docket in Chittenden County is focused on people who have five or more pending criminal cases. State and local leaders hope the effort will ease some of the Queen City’s recent public safety concerns.