Assembly Bill 743 proposes an amendment to Wisconsin's sentencing laws by introducing a new mitigating factor for certain criminal offenders. Specifically, the bill allows courts to consider a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a mitigating factor during sentencing for individuals who are military veterans and have been diagnosed with PTSD resulting from their military service. This addition aims to acknowledge the unique circumstances 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) to include the phrase "mitigating and" in relation to applicable factors considered during sentencing. It also creates a new subsection, 973.017 (8m), which defines a veteran and outlines the conditions under which PTSD can be considered as a mitigating factor. The changes are intended to apply to offenses committed on or after the effective date of the bill.

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