SARAH GEORGE’S Policies
Since being Chittenden County State’s Attorney, Sarah has strengthened the level of transparency between her office and the community. Sarah has put all of her policies in writing, she has announced such policies through the press and social media, and she has made clear the mission and the values of her office.
Bail Policy
This Bail Policy reflects the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office’s commitment to eliminating requests by prosecutors for cash bail, recognizing that it unfairly punishes people based on income rather than risk. Instead, prosecutors seek the least restrictive conditions to ensure public safety and court appearance, without requesting bail. The policy aims to reduce unnecessary pretrial detention, protect the presumption of innocence, and avoid coercive pressures to accept plea deals, while supporting fair and effective alternatives that keep people in the community.
Non Public Safety Stop Policy
This policy distinguishes between “public safety stops” and “non-public safety stops” to guide law enforcement practices, emphasizing that traffic stops should primarily focus on behaviors that pose a real risk to others, such as reckless driving, excessive speeding, or impaired driving. It identifies many common minor violations, like equipment issues, expired registration, or low-level infractions, as non-public safety stops, which do not inherently threaten public safety and should be treated differently. The policy also highlights concerns around consent searches, noting that drivers may feel pressured to agree even when not legally required, and underscores the need for thoughtful, fair enforcement that prioritizes safety while minimizing unnecessary or inequitable police interactions.
FIPP Statement
The Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office affirms its commitment to fair and impartial policing by urging Vermont communities to adopt stronger protections that limit local involvement in federal immigration enforcement and address systemic discrimination. It emphasizes that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, not a local one, and highlights the importance of preventing racial profiling, protecting the rights of immigrant and BIPOC communities, and ensuring accountability for police misconduct. By advocating for policies that restrict information-sharing with federal authorities, protect victims and witnesses regardless of immigration status, and build trust between law enforcement and the community, the policy promotes a safer, more equitable justice system grounded in transparency, fairness, and public trust.
Racial Equity Policy
The Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office recognizes the deep and persistent racial disparities that exist within the criminal justice system and the role that prosecutorial discretion plays in shaping those outcomes. In response, this policy commits the office to advancing racial equity by reducing unnecessary incarceration, addressing the collateral consequences of prosecution decisions, and prioritizing alternatives to traditional punitive approaches, particularly for cases involving poverty, substance use, and mental health needs. It also calls for ongoing anti-bias training, improved access to data for accountability, and evaluation standards that focus on meaningful public safety outcomes rather than conviction or incarceration rates. Overall, the policy directs prosecutors to use their discretion to promote fairness, reduce disparities, and move the system toward more just and equitable outcomes.
Truancy Policy
This policy establishes county-wide criteria for when the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office will file truancy petitions, emphasizing that court involvement in school absenteeism should be used only in the most serious and urgent cases where schools are unable to address underlying issues on their own. It seeks to ensure consistency across schools while recognizing that requiring families to appear in court can create significant hardship and should not be used as a scare tactic. The policy also requires schools to document underlying causes of absenteeism, prior interventions, and why court action is necessary, with deadlines and procedural requirements intended to ensure that truancy cases are thoughtful, targeted, and focused on support rather than punishment.
Chittenden County Bill of Values
The Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office mission is to “do justice” by using its authority with fairness, humility, and respect while serving the community through support for victims, families, and defendants. It emphasizes accountability not only for individuals but for the justice system itself, and prioritizes solutions that improve safety and wellbeing over punishment alone. The office commits to addressing systemic racism and discrimination, using discretion to charge only provable cases, and focusing on diversion, treatment, and restorative approaches whenever possible. It also seeks to center survivor needs, avoid wealth-based disparities, protect constitutional rights, and ensure decisions are based on evidence, context, and public safety rather than vengeance. Overall, the mission outlines a justice system grounded in fairness, transparency, and reducing harm while recognizing people’s capacity for change.
Buprenorphine Policy
This policy directs the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office to decline prosecution of misdemeanor possession of buprenorphine, including Suboxone, recognizing these medications as critical, life-saving tools in treating opioid use disorder. By supporting access to medication-assisted treatment, the policy aims to reduce relapse, overdose deaths, and crime, while prioritizing public health and recovery over criminalization. The year after this policy was implemented in Chittenden County the Legislature decriminalized the possession of Buprenorphine statewide.