Independent institutions that check this jurisdiction's own power — audit, ombudsman, inspector general, civilian review, ethics, and grand-jury bodies established by statute.
The Vermont State Auditor is independently elected statewide to a two-year term and is a constitutional officer. The office audits state agencies and entities receiving state funds.
Read scorecard → 02 OmbudsmanUnder 13 V.S.A. § 5259, the Defender General — appointed by the Governor with Senate confirmation for a four-year term — must independently investigate every inmate death, serious suicide attempt,...
Read scorecard → 03 Civilian ReviewThe Vermont Criminal Justice Council (VCJC) is Vermont's combined POST/decertification body, established by 20 V.S.A. § 2351. Its 24 members include law enforcement commissioners and association...
Read scorecard →Vermont law enforcement oversight centers on the Vermont Criminal Justice Council (VCJC), established under 20 V.S.A. Chapter 151. The VCJC sets training standards, adjudicates unprofessional-conduct complaints, and holds binding decertification authority over officers — it is Vermont's POST body and disciplinary tribunal combined. Its 24-member council includes seven Governor-appointed civilians who may not be sworn officers. Use-of-force allegations are referred to employing agencies for primary investigation; the Council reviews findings and may decertify. Corrections oversight sits with the Office of the Defender General, which holds statutory mandatory-investigation authority over inmate deaths and critical incidents (13 V.S.A. § 5259), with broad records access including video. No statewide civilian police review board exists, though bills to create one (e.g., S.75, H.361) have been proposed.