Vermont DOC Adult Pay to Stay Policy
Submitted | Feb. 1, 2023 |
Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Kelly Stevenson
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Vermont Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
The following materials regarding the imposition, assessment, collection and balances of inmate fees and debt:
All current policies and procedures regarding medical and room & board costs or fees for which inmates are or may become liable. Please include all policies and procedures related to how fees are set, accrued, imposed, collected, and enforced (such as those related to per diem fees, ability to pay determinations, penalties for late or non-payment, authorization for civil or criminal action for payment enforcement, etc).
All reports, databases, spreadsheets, or equivalent materials regarding debts/restitution paid to or owed to this department or any facility/agency under its jurisdiction in FY2021. Please include all relevant data regarding medical and room & board costs, including the number of individuals charged for medical and room & board costs or fees and the total amount of medical and room & board fees imposed in FY2021.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 3 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Kelly Stevenson
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Vermont Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 1, 2023. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Vermont Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 1, 2023. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Vermont Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 1, 2023. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Vermont Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 1, 2023. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
Hello,
Please see the following request for records. Thank you for your help with this request.
Sincerely,
MuckRock
From: Department of Corrections
To Whom It May Concern,
The Vermont Department of Corrections does not charge incarcerated individuals for any medical services, or room and board costs. Therefore, there are no responsive records pursuant to your request.
Thank you,
Laura
Laura Carter
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Records and Information Management Specialist
Department of Corrections
NOB 2 South, 280 State Drive
Waterbury, VT 05671-2000
Phone: 802-241-0069
Cell: 802-904-3287
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~WRD0003
From: Kelly Stevenson
Hello,
Thank you for your response to my initial request. Although the Department of Corrections does not charge these fees, as you have stated, I have located a state statute that seems to authorize the Department to do so. The statutory code is “28 V.S.A. § 755 Disposition of earnings”, and it states the following:
“An inmate participating in a work release program shall cause to be given to the Commissioner the inmate's total earnings less payroll deductions authorized by law, including income taxes. Upon receipt of the earnings the Commissioner, to the extent reasonable, may: (1) Deduct an amount determined to be equivalent to the cost of providing for the living expenses of the inmate."
Does this statute allow the Commissioner of Corrections to draw from an inmate’s payroll if they participate in a work release program? If so, is it the case that this is authorized by the statute but not actively carried out in practice? Your insight into this matter would be greatly appreciated.
The link to this statute can be found there the following link: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/28/011/00755.
Thank you,
Kelly Stevenson
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Vermont Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 1, 2023. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department of Corrections
Yes, the statute permits the Commissioner to draw from an incarcerated individual's payroll for living expenses, but the Department does not currently do so.
Chris Antoine
Staff Attorney