VT. STAT. ANN. tit. 13, § 2652(c)(1)(a) (2011).
- A person under the age of 18 is immune from prosecution for prostitution in the Criminal Division of the Superior Court but may be treated as a juvenile under or referred to the Department for Children and Families for treatment under as a child in need of care or supervision.
- If a person who is a victim of human trafficking is under 18 years of age at the time of the offense, the state may conduct a child in need of care or supervision proceeding.
- It is an affirmative defense for an individual of any age who is a victim of sex trafficking who is prosecuted for any offense, or is the subject of any delinquency petition other than lewdness and prostitution or obscenity that arises out of the sex trafficking or benefits the sex trafficker, that the victim committed the offense as a result of force, fraud, or coercion by a sex trafficker.
No content. Please contact us if you have suggestions.
No content. Please contact us if you have suggestions.
VT. STAT. ANN. tit. 13, § 2658(a)(2)(b) (2019).
- A person convicted of a “qualifying crime” may file a motion to vacate the conviction if it was obtained as a result of the person having been a victim of human trafficking. A qualifying crime is defined to include murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and sexual assault, among others.
Additional Resources
VT. STAT. ANN. tit. 13, § 7030 (2022).
- Vermont law grants courts significant flexibility to consider the nature and circumstances of the crime, the history and character of the defendant, the defendant’s family circumstances and relationships, and the need for treatment, among other factors.
VT. STAT. ANN. tit. 13, § 2663 (2011).
- Requires that law enforcement notify the Victim’s Compensation Program at the Center for Crime Victim Services after encountering a person who reasonably appears to be a victim of human trafficking.
- Requires that law enforcement make a preliminary assessment whether such victim or possible victim of human trafficking meets the criteria for certification as a victim of a severe form of trafficking under federal law or is otherwise eligible for federal, state, or local benefits.
- Requires that law enforcement notify the Family Services Division of the Department of Children and Families or the Office of Adult Protective Services in the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living if the possible victim is under the age of 18.
