Minnesota Signs Veterans Restorative Justice Act Into Law

(KNSI) – Minnesota has passed a law that will allow military veterans to avoid jail time if they commit a crime due to a service-related condition.

Governor Tim Walz held a ceremonial bill signing on Tuesday at Veterans Memorial Park in St. Paul to celebrate the Veterans Restorative Justice Act. The bipartisan legislation will provide veterans convicted of crimes with probation and social services rather than jail.

“Today, I am proud to sign the Veterans Restorative Justice Act,” said

Governor Walz’s Office

Governor Walz. “This landmark legislation will help us see the bigger picture when veterans get caught in the criminal justice system. It’s time we recognize the circumstances that lead our veterans to the courtroom and better understand the complexity of the challenges veterans face when they come home.”

The Veterans Restorative Justice Act does not exempt Veterans from punishment. The law provides an alternative specially convened court to consider service-related issues such as chemical exposure, physical injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and military sexual trauma as veterans navigate through the legal system.

The law applies to veterans accused of less-severe offenses, specifically those at Level 7 or less on the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission’s sentencing grid.

Those crimes include most drug crimes, DWI, theft, and burglary. Veterans convicted of murder, sexual assault, aggravated robbery, or assault wouldn’t be eligible for the special court.