HF7 Summary

• Courts must determine if defendants charged with Severity Level 7, D7, or lower offenses are military veterans with service-related conditions (sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, substance abuse, or mental health conditions) prior to accepting guilty pleas.

• Eligible veterans may be placed on probation without entering a judgment of guilt, with the court deferring further proceedings and requiring participation in treatment programs.

• Veterans who successfully complete probation and court-ordered treatment can have charges dismissed after a public hearing, with a non-public record retained for future court proceedings.

• Counties and judicial districts may establish veterans treatment courts using county veterans service officers and Department of Veterans Affairs specialists to supervise probation with a nonadversarial approach.

• Counties and cities may create veterans pretrial diversion programs allowing prosecutors to dismiss charges if offenders successfully complete recommended treatment programs.

• Effective date: August 1, 2020.