About the Council

The purpose of the Vermont Council on Domestic Violence is to provide leadership for Vermont’s statewide effort to eradicate domestic violence.

 The Council:

  • Facilitates opportunities for dialogue, advocacy, education, and support among state agencies, advocacy groups, and the public.

  • Works to continuously expand the knowledge of council members about the emotional, physical, psychological and economic impacts of domestic violence on individuals and communities especially in marginalized communities.

 

We envision a Vermont where:

  • peaceful and safe families are the norm

  • all people are valued

  • everyone feels safe in their community, workplace, school and home

  • all Vermonters have access to justice and equity

Resources:

  • Council Membership List

The Governor’s Council on Domestic Violence was created in 1993 by Governor Howard Dean and Chief Justice Frederic W. Allen. The Council was charged with serving the community domestic violence task forces in their efforts to eliminate family violence by facilitating the coordination of services, information and education.

In 2008, the Vermont Legislature re-created the Council. Vermont Statute 15 VSA chapter 21, subchapter 4, 1171-1173 created the Vermont Council on Domestic Violence with broad representation from state and community stakeholders in order to coordinate statewide responses to domestic violence, and give the Council expansive authority and responsibility. 

The Council’s mission has been carefully crafted to include the specific duties in statute.

Council Duties in Statute:

Provide leadership for Vermont’s statewide effort to eradicate domestic violence.

Facilitate opportunities for dialogue, advocacy, education, and support among state agencies, advocacy groups, and the public.

Collect, review, and analyze data and information relating to domestic violence.

Provide assistance in developing effective responses to domestic violence, including model policies and procedures, prevention and education initiatives, and domestic-violence-related programs for the criminal justice and human services sectors; 

Work with the Department of State’s Attorneys and the Department of Corrections to develop recommendations for practice in evidence-based prosecution, risk assessment, deferred sentencing, probation conditions and appropriate programming options for domestic violence offenders, as well as strategies for addressing victims of domestic violence who commit crimes as a result of the coercion of a batterer.

 

Recommend changes in state programs, laws, administrative regulations, policies, and budgets related to domestic violence.

Establish and maintain standards for intervention programs for perpetrators of domestic violence, and develop a process for certifying that programs are complying with the standards.

Review and comment upon legislation relating to domestic violence introduced in the general assembly at the request of any member of the general assembly or on its own initiative; and

Study the issue of employment discrimination against victims of domestic violence and suggest model workplace protections and policies.

Collaborate with the Vermont Fatality Review Commission to develop strategies for implementing the commission’s recommendations. 

Quarterly Council Meetings held in March, June, September, and December, and open to the public.