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2011 SESSION

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SB 1063 Veterans and military servicemembers; specialty treatment procedures.

Introduced by: John C. Miller | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Servicemembers and veterans courts. Provides for the program established by the Department of Veterans Services to monitor and coordinate mental health and rehabilitative services support for Virginia veterans to cooperate with localities that may establish special treatment procedures for veterans and active military servicemembers in the criminal justice system.  The bill further provides that to facilitate local involvement and flexibility in responding to the problem of crime in local communities and to effectively treat, counsel, rehabilitate, and supervise veterans and active military servicemembers who are offenders or defendants in the criminal justice system that any city, county, or combination thereof may develop, establish, and maintain policies, procedures, and treatment services for all such offenders who are convicted and sentenced for misdemeanors or felonies that are not felony acts of violence.  This bill is identical to HB 1691.

SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE:

Servicemembers and veterans courts. Provides that any city, county, or combination thereof, may develop, establish, and maintain policies, procedures, and services to provide the judicial system with sentencing alternatives for (i) all such offenders who are convicted and sentenced for misdemeanors or felonies that are not felony acts of violence, as defined in § 19.2-297.1, and who are considered suitable candidates for alternatives that require less than incarceration in a local correctional facility and (ii) all such defendants in cases in which there has not been entered a written order adjudicating the defendant guilty.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Servicemembers and veterans courts. Establishes the Servicemembers and Veterans Court Act. The bill allows the establishment of servicemembers and veterans courts as specialized court dockets within the existing structure of Virginia's court system, offering judicial monitoring of intensive treatment and supervision of offenders who appear to suffer from mental illness, alcohol or drug abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder, or traumatic brain injury, any of which appear to be related to military service, including, readjustment to civilian life. A state military members and veterans court advisory committee is established and localities intending to establish servicemembers and veterans courts are required to establish advisory committees. The Supreme Court of Virginia is given administrative oversight for the implementation of the Act.