Vermont's Raise the Age Law

New research finds relatively low rates of adult reconviction among 18-year-olds whose cases were handled in Vermont’s Family Division.

In July 2020, Vermont became the first state in the nation to extend juvenile court jurisdiction beyond age 18. Under Act 201, commonly known as Raise the Age, most 18-year-olds charged with criminal offenses are now processed in the Family Division rather than the adult Criminal Division. The reform recognizes that young adults are still developing and may benefit from a justice system that emphasizes rehabilitation, treatment, and accountability.

A new report prepared by Crime Research Group (CRG) for the Vermont Department for Children and Families examines the early outcomes of this policy. Vermont’s Raise the Age Law: Early Outcomes and Implications analyzes court records for 377 young adults whose cases were processed under the law, including the types of offenses involved, how cases were resolved, and whether individuals were subsequently convicted of new offenses in adult criminal court.

Key Findings

Diversion was the most common case outcome. Of the 377 cases examined, 42.7% resulted in diversion, 28.9% were dismissed, and 28.4% resulted in a delinquency finding.

Motor vehicle offenses accounted for the largest share of cases. These offenses represented 42.7% of the cohort's most serious charges, followed by public order offenses (16.7%) and assaults (15.9%).

Most young adults did not have a subsequent adult conviction. Across the available follow-up period, 85.9% of individuals had no new adult criminal conviction. The one-year reconviction rate was 6.9%. Among the 160 individuals with at least three years of follow-up, 18.7% had a new adult conviction within three years.

How Do These Results Compare with Earlier Research?

In 2022, CRG published a recidivism study of 18- and 19-year-olds convicted in Vermont's adult Criminal Division before Raise the Age took effect.

That study found a one-year reconviction rate of 24% and a three-year rate of 45.98%. Among 18-year-olds specifically, the three-year rate was 43.5%.

The new study's rates are substantially lower. However, the two studies examined different populations during different periods, with differences in case selection and other characteristics. As a result, the findings do not establish that Raise the Age caused the reduction in reconvictions.

Nevertheless, the results provide an encouraging early indication of outcomes among young adults whose cases were handled in the Family Division.

Building the Evidence for Future Policy Decisions

The report establishes an important baseline for evaluating Raise the Age as Vermont continues to assess its juvenile justice policies.

Additional years of data will allow researchers to examine longer-term outcomes, better understand differences across groups, and assess whether the early patterns continue. Future research may also help identify which services and interventions are most closely associated with successful outcomes.

Vermont's experience offers an opportunity to better understand how justice systems can respond to young adults in ways that support rehabilitation while maintaining public safety.

The report was prepared by Crime Research Group in collaboration with the Justice Information Research Network for the Vermont Department for Children and Families.

Read the full report Vermont’s Raise the Age Law: Early Outcomes and Implications (September 2026).