Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

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  • Vermont State Police try sending mental health workers out with troopers. Is it working?

    The Vermont Department of Public Safety hired embedded mental health crisis workers to respond to mental health-related calls alongside state troopers, with the goal of de-escalating tensions that can lead to unnecessary arrests and use of force. While data is still being collected, service providers say the program has helped connect their clients to needed treatment and support.

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  • 'Lots of us have skeletons:' South Burlington firefighters learn yoga, meditation to stay well

    Vermont’s South Burlington fire department has started offering its firefighters yoga and meditation services as a way to cope with trauma. The services are offered by the Vermont Center for Responder Wellness, which was created as a response to the traumatic experiences many first responders face. The training includes mindfulness, breathing, stretching, and refocusing.

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  • Domestic violence: Police failed to ask 11 questions that might have saved Anako Lumumba

    Lethality assessments have proven effective at avoiding domestic violence homicides and such a tool might have saved a Vermont woman who was murdered. The 11 questions help victims understand the danger they are in and also help law enforcement connect them with services. But officers in many counties in Vermont are either not using the tool or not doing it systematically even though an advocacy organization has pushed for its implementation and even when police chiefs embrace its use.

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  • Could Vermont's new gun law have saved Anako Lumumba's life?

    Extreme risk protection orders can be effective in removing guns from dangerous people, but even though Vermont has such a law on the books, making it work effectively is difficult because it places most of the burden to prove the danger on the victim. Even if a risk protection order exists, law enforcement cannot take someone's guns if that person refuses unless they get a search warrant. The law's pitfalls were evident after the shooting death of a Burlington woman by her estranged partner.

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  • Domestic violence: Convictions are hard and the safety net has many holes

    Vermont lawmakers tried to make it easier for domestic violence victims to seek a special type of restraining order even if law enforcement does not have enough evidence to make an arrest. If it's granted the accused abuser cannot contact the victim or possess guns, but there are many holes in the system that make getting a permanent order more challenging. Resources are tight although one officer to work part-time in the State Attorney's office to create more uniform policies around the state.

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