Vandalism fund in Burlington
No need for insurance

Charlie Donahue | staff writer

Residents and students in downtown Burlington no longer have to worry about random acts of violence to their property.  Thanks to a new fund in the budget, those who seem helpless can now be financially reimbursed by a program called the Parallel Justice Program.

The damage done

The Parallel Justice Program also cleans graffiti in Burlington. Larry Frisoli, photo

Clark Sheldon, who works with victims of vandalism for the city of Burlington, says that the Burlington Police Department first started the program in July.  The program was established by The National Center for Victims of Crime to help victims who cannot afford to pay for the price of the damage done to their property.

“The concept of this program is that we need a system that responds to victims,” Sheldon says. “This program is something separate that responds to the needs of victims.” 

The money comes from national and local organizations and grants, such as Vermont Center for Crime Victims and Services.  The Parallel Justice Program has become popular as vandalism has increased in Burlington. 

“I think meeting a victim's needs and helping them heal after experiencing a crime is important,” Sheldon says.

Susan Herman wrote on www.cedoburlington.org, a Web site for the city of Burlington's community and economic development office, “The concept of Parallel Justice changes the paradigm. Instead of asking victims to seek justice solely through the criminal justice process, we instead ask victims to define the problems they face—and then, we do our best to address them.”

In action

St. Michael's College senior Andrick Deppmeyer was a victim of vandalism in Burlington last month. He came back to his car to find his tires slashed, along with everyone else on the street.  When Deppmeyer called police he learned about the Parallel Justice Program and the fact that he would be reimbursed for new tires. 

Graffiti on the side of a building. Larry Frisoli, photo

“The relief fund is pretty sweet,” Deppmeyer says.  “The police were real helpful. They came to my car and informed me of the Parallel Justice Program and that I wouldn’t be financially responsible for paying for new tires.”

Deppmeyer says he is grateful for the program.  His insurance covered the cost for the new tires and the parallel project is paying the co-pay fees that he would have had to cover. To get his car fixed would have cost around $500, he says.

Pete Soons, St. Michael's director of campus safety and security, says there is not a program like the Parallel Justice Program on campus.  However, vandalism can be a problem here, he says. 

“Vandalism is a problem at St. Mikes and it shows a lack of respect and it’s a violation of our community,” Soons says.

Soons says the school responds to vandalism around the college by charging students for breaking and destroying things.

“Ultimately, the cost is paid for by the students,” Soons says.  “If there is damage to a resident hall, the college has to fix it and the expenses are paid for by the student.”

There’s more to it

The Burlington Police Department heads the Parallel Justice Program. Larry Frisoli, photo

Sheldon says there are other civic programs the city offers to victims of various other crimes.  He feels the Parallel Justice Program's great response makes it look promising for the program to stay in Burlington for the long-term, he says. 

“I think the program is working well,” Sheldon says.  “We have had positive responses from community business and collaborating partners who help fund the project.”

Sheldon says it wouldn’t be too challenging for other cities and towns in the Chittenden County to add the program.

“I think it would be easy to replicate this sort of program in another community,” he says.