Pretrial Services

Connecting quickly to health and other services

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The Vermont Pretrial Services Program supports people who are awaiting trial to connect with mental health and substance use treatment.

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"Pretrial Services allow for quick and effective intervention which help address root issues underlying behavior. The skilled staff are invested in both their clients and the victims as well as community safety."

— Former County State’s Attorney

Vermont pretrial services meeting

In Pretrial Services:

  • Staff help people make and keep appointments, connect people to recovery support and other services, and can support people to meet court-ordered requirements.
  • The program is voluntary and confidential, and focused on people’s health and well-being.
  • A judge may order a person to contact a Pretrial Services coordinator. The order will include a requirement to contact the program and possibly also complete a clinical assessment.
  • The judge and prosecutor are only told whether a person follows the order’s requirements. No other information is given to the court or prosecutor.
  • If a person does not engage, they do not face any criminal liability and cannot be charged with violating a court order.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys may suggest to a judge that Pretrial Services would help a person, and people charged with a crime may ask to work with Pretrial Services as well.

Vermont governing law: 13 V.S.A. § 7554c