House Speaker and gubernatorial candidate Gaye Symington (D-Jericho) released her plan for reforming the way the state handles sex offenders and sex crimes investigations.

Symington called for fully-staffed Special Investigative Units — specialized law-enforcement squads dedicated to tracking sex crimes — along with a more extensive review process for releasing sex offenders from probation.

At a press conference with Attorney General William Sorrell Wednesday, Symington criticized her gubernatorial opponent, Gov. Jim Douglas (R-Middlebury), over his handling of the issue.

“I’m particularly pleased that these law enforcement leaders joined my call for full staffing of Special Investigative Units. They have proven to be very effective at helping to obtain convictions and longer sentences,"Symington said. "Vermonters are still waiting for an answer from Governor Douglas on why state troopers have not been transferred into these critically important units.”

The issue has been of particular interest since convicted sex-offender Michael Jacques was charged with kidnapping his 12-year-old niece, Brooke Bennett, who was found dead in early July after disappearing in Randolph.

Symington and other Douglas critics have placed some blame on the governor's administration after Jacques was released early from his probation.

On Wednesday, Symington proposed that no sex offender in the state should be released from probation without a hearing and a report from a judge. She also said that a number of state-funded sexual abuse prevention programs should be insulated from cuts in future budgets.

"These are important steps we need to take to strengthen our approach to preventing and prosecuting sex crimes.  I am open to making other changes and look forward to the recommendations that will be made at the end of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings,” Symington said.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is in the midst of a series of legislative hearings looking at possible reforms to the state's sex crimes policies.

Douglas has launched his own investigation of the Jacques incident, and is advocating a 25-year minimum sentence for  convicted child sex-offenders. 

• Vermont's Senate Judiciary Committee holds first hearing on state's sex offender policies