Vermont FY24 SJSP

The Vermont SAC proposes three (3) projects, one core capacity and two special emphasis projects. Core-Capacity Project - Crime and Incarceration Rates in Vermont: This project will use NIBRS and Vermont law enforcement CAD-RMS data to examine the scope and extent of crimes in Vermont. The SAC will explore was percentage of crimes are covered by NIBRS and trends in the NIBRS and non-NIBRS data.  The SAC will use court data to analyze what crimes are prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced.  Population level data will be overlayed on these rates to explore any relationships that might exist in sentencing patterns and demographics of the county.   This project will inform the direction of future criminal justice policy. Special-Emphasis 1: Developing and Testing Measures to Assess the Impact of Restorative Justice Programs:  The SAC will work with the Vermont Office of the Attorney General's Community Justice Unit to develop and test survey tools to measure the impact of Adult and Youth Court Diversion, Tamarack, and Pre-Trial Services Programs. The SAC will support their efforts to establish a complete Results Based Accountability Model. The SAC will pilot and test instruments with 3-4 counties, finalize surveys, and develop a data collection and management plan. The project will benefit the diversion programs statewide to develop a more robust evaluation system allowing them to respond to legislative and other funders' and stakeholders' questions and in turn enhance the broader understanding of the impact of restorative justice programs in Vermont. Special-Emphasis 2:  Towards a Unified Crime Data Analysis Framework: Addressing Challenges in Vermont: The SAC will bring together a project team of law enforcement data analysts and those interested in developing analytic capacities to address issues in the usability and accessibility of data to support data driven decision making. The SAC will use data from the law enforcement CAD-RMS to explore call types and identity data quality issues that can impact cross agency data analysis. The SAC will provide technical support to agencies interested in setting up R and related development requirements. It will share scripts and other tools to support agencies to analyze data consistently.  The SAC will prepare a report for the Valcour Governance Board and PSET on its findings. This special emphasis project will expand upon this work and create a path for other interested agencies to receive similar support. It will support increased ability for statewide analysis of LEA data.