Case: State v. A.K.
Charges: Second Degree Gross Misdemeanor DWI
Outcome: Dismissal by Stay of Adjudication Under the Veterans Restorative Justice Act
A.K. was a military veteran who served our country in the United States Marine Corps. Like many veterans, he came away from his service suffering from service relation mental health conditions. As a result of his experiences in the military, suffered from depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder. As a result of these conditions, he made a bad decision and drove drunk.
Thankfully, Minnesota passed a new law called the Veterans Restorative Justice Act (VRJA). Under the Veterans Restorative Justice Act, active military or veterans who suffer from a service -related mental health condition and who commit a crime as a result of that condition, are entitled to special treatment. Veterans who can establish a connection between their military service and their offense of conviction are entitled to a stay of adjudication. The judge agreed that A.K. would not have commited DWI had he not been suffering from a service-related mental health condition. As a result, A.K. will complete probation and his charges will be dismissed.