MN SF4326

Applies to military veterans charged with Severity Level 7, D7, or lower offenses (including misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors) who allege their crime stemmed from service-related sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, substance abuse, or mental health conditions.

Courts must determine veteran status and service connection by clear and convincing evidence before sentencing, and may defer proceedings and place eligible defendants on probation without entering a guilty judgment if otherwise probation-eligible.

Defendants ordered to treatment programs may receive sentence credits for time served in residential treatment, with courts preferring programs with history of treating veterans with service-related disorders, including VA and Department of Defense programs.

Upon successful probation completion, courts may discharge and dismiss charges without adjudication of guilt, with records maintained as non-public by Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for use in subsequent proceedings.

Authorizes counties and cities to establish veterans pretrial diversion programs allowing prosecutors to dismiss charges if offenders successfully complete recommended treatment, effective August 1, 2020.