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Vt. House considers brain injured defendant law

Top Vermont human services officials say their agencies are not a good fit for handling criminal defendants found incompetent to stand trial due to traumatic brain injuries. The House Judiciary Committee heard Friday from Addison County State’s Attorney David Fenster about three cases in which criminal defendants were found incompetent because of traumatic brain injuries. Fenster said the state does not have programs to treat people with traumatic brain injuries, so they end up being released into the community. But the commissioners of mental health and the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living say their departments would not be a good fit to care for such people.