Vermont's Special Accountability Court Reduces Chittenden County Case Backlog

The new court aims to connect repeat offenders with treatment and clear a judicial logjam.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Vermont Governor Phil Scott and state leaders are touting the success of a special accountability court in Chittenden County that has reduced a backlog of over 900 pending cases to just over 200. The court connects repeat, mostly low-level offenders with social services to help address underlying issues. However, the court also found 7 defendants mentally incompetent to stand trial, highlighting gaps in the state's mental health system.

Why it matters

The accountability court pilot project in Chittenden County was launched to address a growing sense of disorder and crime in Burlington, as well as a jammed court system. The success of the program could lead to it being expanded to other parts of the state.

The details

Last fall, there were some 900 people in Chittenden County listed with over five pending cases, many repeat offenders. The new special accountability court has knocked that down to just over 200 cases. The court connects offenders with social service providers in the courtroom, helping their cases play out over weeks instead of months. However, 7 people were found mentally incompetent to stand trial, raising concerns about gaps in Vermont's mental health system.

  • Last fall, there were around 900 people in Chittenden County with over 5 pending cases.
  • The new accountability court has reduced that backlog to just over 200 cases.

The players

Phil Scott

The Governor of Vermont who convened local leaders, the judiciary, and prosecutors to launch the accountability court pilot project.

Sarah George

The Chittenden County State's Attorney who was among those briefing state lawmakers on the success of the accountability court.

Zach Weight

A special prosecutor who said a big component of the accountability court is that defendants engage with the services provided.

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What they’re saying

“The community as a whole, the county as a whole, is seeing the impact in a beneficial way.”

— Sarah George, Chittenden County State's Attorney (WCAX)

“In large part, a lot of these defendants engage. I think it is a big component of accountability as well.”

— Zach Weight, Special Prosecutor (WCAX)

“We've been able to reduce the backlog, but more importantly, help some of the offenders find a path forward.”

— Phil Scott, Governor of Vermont (WCAX)

What’s next

The accountability court will be reduced to just one day a week as the governor seeks to expand it to other parts of the state, including Rutland County.

The takeaway

The success of the accountability court pilot in Chittenden County highlights the potential for collaborative, treatment-focused approaches to address judicial backlogs and repeat offenses. However, the court's findings of mental incompetence in some cases also reveal ongoing gaps in Vermont's mental health system that need to be addressed.