News Release
STATEMENT FROM REP. O'NEILL ON VETERANS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ACT
ST. PAUL, MN — Rep. Marion O'Neill, R-Maple Lake, issued the following statement regarding today's ceremonial bill signing by Gov. Walz for the Veterans Restorative Justice Act (VRJA).
"This bill is the result of years of hard work by veterans organizations, legal advocates, and a bipartisan group of legislators. The VRJA will have life changing positive impacts on veterans in Minnesota. We were able to work together to improve the bill by strengthening diversion requirements, increasing protections and rights for victims, and making sure that the veterans participating in the program received the care and treatment needed to turn their lives around."
Representative O'Neill worked for months to strengthen language in the bill to make sure dangerous predatory offenders would not be eligible for the VRJA, and require the courts to fully consider the safety of victims when the court considers dismissing a case. Additionally, she worked to ensure that participants completed — not just participated — in treatment, and were in full compliance with their probation at the moment when the judge was to dismiss the charges and seal their record.
###