Every day, state's attorneys are charged with making life-altering decisions. What would you do when faced with these kinds of decisions, and what impact might those choices have on everyday Vermonters' lives?
Case 4: A 19 year-old is arrested for stealing a car. The car was recovered a week later, abandoned, and returned to the owner with no damage. The person has no prior arrests.
Vermont has a statute that permits young people arrested for certain crimes to be adjudicated in family court, making the proceedings confidential to protect them from collateral consequences and providing treatment instead of the possibility of jail time. The prosecutor has a choice of whether to file criminal charges in the criminal court or youthful offender charges in family court.
What would you do with this case?