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BRATTLEBORO â Youth Services has hired Rachael Trill as Tamarack and Pretrial Services Coordinator for the organization. These pre-trial programs were first started in 2015 after the passage of Act 195 by the Vermont legislature to address a judicial system overwhelmed by many cases best addressed outside of the courtroom.
According to Sally Struble, Youth Services director of restorative justice programs, the agencyâs pretrial and Tamarack programs recognize that many people entering the criminal justice system have underlying factors that lead to the criminal misconduct.
âThey are voluntary programs designed to screen for the presence of substance abuse or mental health issues to inform the criminal justice system about whether alternative paths at rehabilitation may be more effective than the traditional criminal justice system,â Struble said. Tamarack is a diversion program specifically focused on access to substance abuse and mental health treatment. Pre-trial monitoring supports individuals in meeting their conditions of pre-trial release, and accessing community supports.