Vermont Public Records

In Vermont, background checks are governed by the Vermont Public Records Act (Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 1, Chapter 5, § 315 through § 320). They may include criminal history, sex offender status, court filings, arrest records, and vital statistics. Agencies must respond within 3 business days for the agency to allow inspection. The law is administered by Vermont Secretary of State, Records Management Division, 128 State St., Montpelier, VT 05633; (802) 828-2308.

Police reports in Vermont can be obtained from the Vermont State Police Records Division. The Vermont Public Records Act (1 V.S.A. § 315) generally permits any person to request police reports. Submit a written request to the records division of the agency that filed the report, including the date, location, and report number if available. The Vermont State Police in Montpelier processes state-level report requests. Fees and turnaround times vary by agency; many departments in Vermont offer online request portals for faster service.

Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) in Vermont are maintained by the state Department of Health or Vital Statistics. Standard fees: Actual cost of duplication; no charge for electronic records in their existing f. Certified copies carry separate fee schedules. Fee waivers may be available for journalists, nonprofits, and public-interest requesters - always ask.

The Vermont Department of Education provides school district performance data for all public schools in the state. The data includes information on student achievement, graduation rates, and other indicators of school performance. The data is available on the Vermont Department of Education website. School performance data in Vermont is collected and published by the Vermont Agency of Education (education.vermont.gov). The agency's annual State Report Card covers student achievement, teacher qualifications, per-pupil spending, and demographic breakdowns. Data is disaggregated by student subgroup in compliance with federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requirements. The report card is accessible free of charge through the Vermont Agency of Education (education.vermont.gov) website.

Vermont crime statistics are compiled by the Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC) and the Vermont Center for Justice Research and published at vcic.vermont.gov. FBI UCR data covers Vermont. In 2022, Vermont reported one of the lowest violent crime rates nationally at approximately 170 per 100,000 residents. Local data is available through the Burlington Police Department and Vermont State Police barracks. The VCIC also publishes data through the Vermont Justice Statistics Dashboard.

If arrested in Vermont, you would be taken to the local county jail. Court appearances are scheduled in the county where the arrest occurred. Under the Vermont Public Records Act, arrest records and booking information are generally public. Oversight: Vermont Secretary of State, Records Management Division, 128 State St., Montpelier, VT 05633; (802) 828-2308. Appeals go to district or circuit court.

Yes. Vermont state and public libraries provide access to public records databases. The Vermont Public Records Act (Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 1, Chapter 5, § 315 through § 320) guarantees public access to government documents. Many libraries offer free access to LexisNexis, court records portals, and vital record indexes. Vermont public libraries, including the state library in Montpelier, offer free access to public records databases. Patrons can access court dockets, property records, vital statistics indexes, and census microfilm. The Vermont Public Records Act (1 V.S.A. § 315) ensures that government records are available for inspection; librarians can assist with formal records requests and guide users to online state portals for birth, death, marriage, and divorce records.

The Vermont Library is located in Montpelier, Vermont. The Vermont State Library is the official depository for state government publications and provides research assistance to the public, legislators, and state agencies. Collections include historical newspapers, legislative history, court records indexes, and genealogy resources such as Ancestry Library Edition. The Vermont Public Records Act (1 V.S.A. § 315) guarantees public access to government documents maintained at the library. Remote access to digital collections is available to Vermont residents with a library card through the state library's online portal.

The Vermont State Police Identification Bureau provides fingerprinting services for criminal background checks. The office is located at 45 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm. The Vermont State Police processes all fingerprint-based background checks for Vermont. Fingerprinting appointments can be scheduled through the bureau's website or by contacting a regional office. Vermont licensed fingerprint vendors (Live Scan) are listed on the Vermont State Police's approved vendor directory. Prints are transmitted electronically to the FBI CJIS Division. Turnaround for most checks is 24-72 hours; paper card submissions take 6-8 weeks. Bring government-issued photo ID.