Colorado establishes veteran deferred sentencing, specialized training, and tracking for justice-involved veterans

Original title: Justice-Involved Veterans

Last action · April 13, 2026: Senate Committee on Judiciary Postpone IndefinitelySponsor: Nick Hinrichsen

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Introduced

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Floor Vote

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What This Bill Would Do

Colorado Senate Bill 96 allows defendant veterans to request an eligibility assessment for veteran and mandates specialized training for law enforcement, courts, and corrections personnel. Additionally, the measure requires courts and the Department of Corrections to track veteran defendants, identify veterans in diagnostic centers, and consider veteran status during sentencing and rehabilitation planning.

Why it matters

The bill creates alternative sentencing pathways and targeted correctional housing and services for eligible veteran defendants while imposing new tracking, reporting, and training mandates on state courts, law enforcement, and corrections agencies.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Defendant Veterans

Eligible veteran defendants gain the option to request deferred sentencing, specialized rehabilitation considerations, and potential access to veteran housing units and services.

Directly affected

Law Enforcement, Courts, and Corrections Personnel

Personnel are mandated to receive training regarding justice-involved veterans, and courts and corrections staff must fulfill new tracking, reporting, and identification duties.

Directly affected

Department of Corrections

The department must implement a veteran identification process across all offender diagnostic centers and factor veteran status into housing and rehabilitation structuring.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the veteran deferred sentencing assessment under this bill?

Defendant veterans can request an eligibility assessment, and the bill outlines specific eligible offenses and requirements that must be met to qualify.

What new responsibilities are given to the Department of Corrections?

The department must create a veteran identification process in all , record offender veteran status, and consider eligible veterans for specialized veteran housing units, services, and rehabilitation programs.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

2 actions

Apr 13, 2026Senate
Senate Committee on Judiciary Postpone Indefinitely
Feb 11, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary

Version history

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