Nation's First Conference On Veterans And Criminal Justice System, Veterans Treatment Court Conference, Focuses On Veterans' Substance Abuse And Mental Health Crisis, Opens 8AM Mon Dec 2 In DC
4-Star Gen. Barry McCaffrey (Former Drug Czar), Gen. Eric Shinseki (Sec Of Veterans Affairs), Actress & Justice For Vets Senior Director Melissa Fitzgerald, Iraq-Afghanistan Returning Veterans, Judges Speak
1 in 6 Returning Vets Suffers from Substance Abuse, 1 in 5 a Mental Health Condition; "National Crisis of Alarming Proportions"
8-10 AM, Mon. December 2, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, DC, 2660 Woodley Rd NW; Open to Media
Also Joint Chiefs Of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey To Speak At Closing Session 8 AM December 4
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The first national conference on veterans and the criminal justice system, focusing on those with substance abuse and mental health problems, problems opens Monday, December 2nd, 8AM, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road, NW, Washington, DC. Four-Star Gen. Barry McCaffrey (ret), former U.S. Drug Czar and Chairman of the Veterans Treatment Court Committee of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), Melissa Fitzgerald, Senior Director of Justice for Vets, a division of NADCP, and West Huddleston, CEO of NADCP and organizer of the conference, announced the event today.
McCaffrey and Fitzgerald pointed to alarming statistics showing:
- One in 6 returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan suffers from substance abuse
- Since 2004, the number of veterans being treated for mental illness and substance abuse has increased 38%
- Over 700,000 veterans are in the corrections system
- 81% of veterans arrested had a substance abuse problem when arrested
- There were 120,000 homeless veterans at some point last year
- 76% of homeless veterans have a substance abuse or mental health disorder
"Too many veterans are returning home suffering from mental health conditions and substance abuse disorders and becoming involved in the criminal justice system. This is a national crisis of alarming proportions, and it demands that we come together to focus on solutions," McCaffrey, Fitzgerald, and Huddleston asserted. "We've worked to establish Veterans Treatment Courts, now numbering over 130 and continuing to grow. This critical gathering will explore how we can expand these life-saving programs to every veteran in need," they stated.
At the 8-10AM opening session Monday December 2, the conference – entitled "Vet Court Con," or the Veterans Treatment Court Conference, will feature General Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs; General Barry McCaffrey, former Drug Czar and Chairman, NADCP Veterans Committee; Justice foe Vets Senior Director and actress Melissa Fitzgerald, who played on "West Wing"; Judge Robert Russell, who created the first veterans treatment court; and West Huddleston, CEO of NADCP and organizer of the conference.
At the closing session, 8-10 AM Wednesday December 4, General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will speak on reestablishing "stability" in the lives of returning veterans.
MEDIA NOTE: At both the opening and closing sessions, in addition to the above speakers, combat veterans with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan will provide moving personal testimony about the struggles they faced when they came home. They will discuss how the Veterans Treatment Court kept them out of prison, away from homelessness, employed, back in school, and together with their families. 1000 attendees are expected at the conference—the V.I.P. speakers mentioned as well as law enforcement, judges, probation officers, treatment providers, volunteer veterans mentors, and program graduates.
*** There will be a media availability with speakers and participants immediately following the opening session for Q&A, estimated to end 10AM. Coverage of the opening and closing sessions is open to media. In addition, if media would like telephone or onsite interviews beginning 6AM Monday, December 2 before the 8AM opening event, contact us.
Contacts: Bob Weiner 301-283-0821 cell 202-306-1200 [email protected]
For 4-Star Gen. McCaffrey, Chair, NADCP Veterans Committee;
Chris Deutsch 571-384-1857 for NADCP [email protected]
SOURCE National Association of Drug Court Professionals; Robert Weiner Associates
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