A More Just Approach…
The Cost of the Current System
In Vermont, it can cost well over $100,000 per year to incarcerate a single individual. This places us among the highest in the nation, and in some estimates, nearly double the national average.
AND yet, too often, people leave the system without the support, treatment, or stability needed to move forward. They return to the same conditions they left. And the cycle continues.
This is not just a financial issue.
It is a systems issue.
What We’re Missing
For many individuals, especially those facing addiction, mental health challenges, or economic instability, incarceration does not address the root causes of behavior. It often deepens them.
Disconnection from family. Disruption of employment. Limited access to consistent care.
When those factors are left unaddressed, the likelihood of reoffending increases, rather than decreases.
We are responding to symptoms - not investing enough in solutions.
A Different Way Forward
A more effective and just approach recognizes that safety and healing are not in conflict. They are connected.
It means shifting from a system that relies primarily on punishment to one that prioritizes:
Treatment for substance use and mental health
Access to education and job training
Restorative approaches that repair harm and rebuild connection
Reentry support that creates real pathways forward
Because when people are given the tools to stabilize their lives, communities become safer.
The Barrier We’ve Created
Too often, a criminal record becomes a permanent barrier. Not because of current risk, but because of how our systems are designed.
Applications are filtered. Opportunities disappear. Potential is overlooked.
We say we believe in more chances, but our policies and practices don’t always reflect that belief.
And when people are locked out of employment, the impact is predictable:
Instability increases. Disconnection grows.
And when people are locked out of employment, we increase the likelihood of reoffending - not reduce it.
A More Just Path Forward
Fair chance hiring is not about ignoring risk.
It is about recognizing potential, and creating the conditions for that potential to be realized.
It means evaluating people based on who they are now, not only where they’ve been.
It means understanding that stability is built through opportunity, not before it.
In Vermont, we’ve taken steps in this direction, including “ban the box” policies that delay questions about criminal history and allow applicants to be considered more fully.
But policy alone is not enough.
It requires a shift in mindset.
From exclusion to inclusion, from liability to possibility, from past mistakes to present readiness.
What It Looks Like in Practice
Creating real opportunity means:
Looking at skills and readiness, not just records
Providing support and structure for successful employment
Creating workplaces where people can rebuild trust and stability
Partnering with community organizations that support reentry
Because when someone is given the opportunity to work, they are also given the opportunity to rebuild their life.
Why This Matters for Vermont
In a small state like ours, workforce and community are deeply connected.
When businesses open their doors, communities grow stronger. When individuals are able to support themselves and their families, the ripple effects are real:
Stronger families. More stable communities. Reduced recidivism. A healthier economy.
Opportunity is not just a workforce solution. It is a community investment.
The Invitation
If we believe in recovery, we must believe in opportunity.
If we believe in prevention, we must invest in pathways forward.
And if we believe in stronger communities, we must be willing to rethink who gets a chance to contribute.