The proposed bill aims to establish the Veteran Justice Act in West Virginia, which provides veterans charged with certain offenses the opportunity to avoid a criminal conviction record, reduce felony charges to misdemeanors, and receive probation instead of incarceration. The bill outlines eligibility criteria for veterans, including those with mental or physical conditions stemming from military service, and creates a presumption in favor of a veteran sentencing option for probation-eligible offenses. It also specifies that certain serious crimes, such as murder and sexual assault, are excluded from this program.

Additionally, the bill mandates the development of tailored treatment programs for veterans, establishes training requirements for law enforcement and judicial personnel, and outlines data collection and evaluation procedures to track the effectiveness of the program. Successful completion of the program may lead to case dismissal or felony reduction, while veterans not eligible for the program will have their status considered as a mitigating factor during sentencing. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 62-16A-1, 62-16A-2, 62-16A-3, 62-16A-4, 62-16A-5, 62-16A-6, 62-16A-7, 62-16A-8, 62-16A-9