CO SB096

Veteran defendants convicted of eligible offenses (felonies or misdemeanors except crimes of violence) may request an eligibility assessment for deferred sentencing if their offense resulted from a service-related condition such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance use disorder, or military sexual trauma

Courts must place eligible veterans on probation with conditions including mental health assessment, treatment, and a case plan developed with a Veterans Justice Outreach specialist; upon successful completion, charges are dismissed and records sealed

Courts must notify defendants at arraignment that veteran status has mitigation value in sentencing and consider veteran status, service merit, deployment, and disability ratings as mitigating factors for non-Class 1 felonies and non-sex offenses

Department of Corrections must implement a standardized veteran identification process at all diagnostic centers, consider veteran offenders for veteran housing units and services, and report annually on incarcerated veteran statistics and recidivism rates beginning January 2028

Law enforcement, courts, and corrections personnel must receive training on justice-involved veterans, including training on military sexual trauma; judicial districts must track and report data on veteran deferred sentences by demographics and offense type