The Office of the Defender General has access to the Vermont Criminal Conviction Record Internet Service (VCCRIS), provided by VCIC. To request a VCIC Record Check through the Defender General’s Office please use this form: VCIC Record Checks. This form is for public defenders, assigned counsel contractors and ad hoc attorneys assigned on a specific case.
Criminal History Record Check Section
VCIC is responsible for processing requests for criminal history record checks from authorized criminal justice agencies and non-criminal justice agencies. Access to VCIC criminal history records is restricted to agencies/organizations who have statutory authority to request criminal records for criminal justice or employment screening purposes. VCIC staff are charged with the responsibility of auditing requesting agencies to ensure that their use of the repository's records is consistent with state and federal law.
Sex Offender Registry
Pursuant to VSA Title 13, Section 5401, VCIC is responsible for maintaining a registry of subjects convicted of certain sex offenses. VCIC is responsible for annually updating the information in the Registry particularly the address of the registrant. VCIC is charged by statute with the responsibility of informing local law enforcement agencies of the address of registrants living within the law enforcement agency's jurisdiction.
Vermont Marijuana Registry
Pursuant to VSA Title 18, Section 4473, VCIC is responsible for the administration and maintenance of the Marijuana Registry. Specific amounts of marijuana are allowed to be possessed by certain individuals and their caregivers, to alleviate the symptoms or effects of a registered patient’s debilitating condition.
National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) And Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR)
VCIC administers the state NIBRS and UCR programs. These programs are state and national criminal justice data collection programs managed by the FBI. The programs focus on collecting data related to crimes reported to the police. VCIC is responsible for collecting, editing, and analyzing reported crime data from all law enforcement agencies statewide. The results of the analysis are published by VCIC in the annual Vermont Crime Report which presents crime at the state, county, and town level.
Vermont has an incident-based reporting system (VIBRS) which is in compliance with the FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) specifications. NIBRS is a new, more comprehensive and sophisticated UCR reporting system.
The information reported through the NIBRS program provides the data that is the basis for the VCIC Vermont Crime On-Line program which provides statistical and mapping information regarding current crime throughout the state.
Criminal History Records Repository
VCIC is the repository of all criminal record information generated by criminal justice agencies statewide. VCIC consolidates and verifies arrest, prosecution, sentencing, and correctional information provided by other agencies into a criminal history format which documents a subject's contacts with the criminal justice system in Vermont.
Identification Bureau
VCIC manages the statewide ten-print fingerprint repository for defendants arraigned in a Vermont criminal court. Fingerprints are maintained to positively identify subjects and to provide supporting documentation for charges posted to the criminal history record. VCIC is also responsible for processing all fingerprint supported requests for criminal record checks for employment screening.
VCIC is also responsible for maintaining statewide files of photographs of defendants taken at the time of arrest or incarceration.
National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
NCIC is a national automated information system established nearly thirty years ago by the FBI to support criminal justice agencies at all levels. NCIC information includes data on wanted and missing persons and stolen property. NCIC operates under a shared management concept involving the FBI and the states. A single state agency in each state assumes the duties and responsibilities for managing the system for the entire state. In Vermont, VCIC is responsible for administration, training, and oversight of the NCIC system.
Vulnerable Populations Program
As a result of new legislation effective July 1, 2006, qualified entities whose employees or volunteers provide care for vulnerable populations in Vermont are now authorized to receive Vermont criminal record checks for purposes of employment screening. Record check requests will be processed by the Vermont Criminal Information Center (VCIC). The record check may only be requested with the permission of the applicant and only after a conditional offer of employment or volunteer status has been made. The program is voluntary – employers are not required by law to participate. Click here to get more information on this program.