MONTPELIER, Vt. — A criminal investigation by the Vermont State Police has been in progress at the women’s prison in South Burlington for two months, Human Services Secretary Michael Smith said Friday. The criminal case was referred to the state police by the Department of Corrections, Smith said in a news release. Smith also outlined steps his office will be taking after the weekly newspaper Seven Days described sexual misconduct and drug use involving inmates and guards at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility. Smith said that “in the near future,” his office would take a more active role in monitoring day-to-day operations at the jail.