Senate Bill 716 proposes an amendment to Wisconsin's sentencing laws to include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a mitigating factor for military veterans during sentencing. The bill specifically allows courts to consider a diagnosis of PTSD resulting from military service when determining the appropriate sentence for a veteran convicted of a criminal offense. This addition aims to acknowledge the unique challenges faced by veterans and the impact of their service on their mental health.

The bill amends existing legal language in section 973.017 (2) (b) by inserting "mitigating and" before "aggravating factors" and updates the reference from subsection (8) to (8m). It also creates a new subsection (8m) that defines a veteran and outlines the conditions under which PTSD can be considered a mitigating factor in sentencing. The provisions of this act will apply to offenses committed on or after its effective date.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 973.017(2)(b), 973.017