BURBANK, Calif., March 9, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The cast of television's "The West Wing" joined forces yesterday with the non-profit Justice For Vets to launch a powerful public service announcement (PSA) supporting Veterans Treatment Courts. The PSA premiered during an event at Warner Bros. Studios featuring "The West Wing" cast-members Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford, Dulé Hill and Mary McCormack and United States Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald.
The effort is spearheaded by former "The West Wing" cast member Melissa Fitzgerald, who now serves as senior director of Justice For Vets, the only national organization committed to the expansion of Veterans Treatment Courts. Veterans Treatment Courts are recognized as the most innovative and successful approach for diverting veterans suffering from substance abuse and/or a mental health conditions away from incarceration and into treatment. These veterans-only court dockets combine structure, rigorous treatment and mentoring from volunteer veterans to connect veterans in crisis with local, state and federal benefits.
Veterans Treatment Courts currently serve over 13,000 veterans who would otherwise face incarceration. The new Justice For Vets PSA urges the public to support the effort to establish more programs in order to meet the urgent and growing need.
YouTube and downloadable PreRes versions of the PSA are available at www.JusticeForVets.org/WestWingPSA.
For footage and AP images from the launch event, contact Justice For Vets Director of Communications Chris Deutsch, cdeutsch@allrise.org.
"Veterans Treatment Courts are spreading across the country because they work, but there is an urgent and growing need for more," said Justice For Vets Senior Director Melissa Fitzgerald. "Justice For Vets is grateful to the incredible cast of the 'The West Wing' for supporting this life-saving program and urging the public to get involved. Our hope is that this PSA inspires millions to join Justice For Vets in the mission to put a Veterans Treatment" Court within reach of every veteran in need."
"The hardest part of serving in the military should not be coming home—we owe our fighting men and women more than that," said Dee Dee Myers, who served as a story consultant on "The West Wing" and is currently Executive Vice President, Worldwide Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Warner Bros., where the Justice For Vets kickoff event was held. "We owe them a real shot at a good life – and the services and support they need to realize that simple dream. That's what Veterans Treatment Courts are all about."
"It is an honor to be here in support of our veterans who sacrificed so much for all of us. And I am thrilled to support my friend Melissa Fitzgerald and Justice For Vets, an organization that provides such critical care to our veterans when they have difficulties transitioning home," said actress Allison Janney who starred for seven seasons on "The West Wing" and now stars in the hit Warner Bros. Television show "Mom," for which she's won two Emmy Awards.
"Partnering with judges and courts that want to identify Veteran defendants and get them connected to needed VA treatment is how we best serve them," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald. "These programs are a perfect example of communities coming together to serve Veterans in a holistic way with VA care as a vital component. If we are going to serve Veterans - all of them who have put so much on the line for all of us - then we're going to work together to see that they have the best services and health care available. "
Secretary McDonald joined three veterans on stage for a panel discussion on Veterans Treatment Courts. Army veteran and Harris County, Texas District Court judge Marc Carter discussed what led him to create the first Veterans Treatment Court in Texas. "I saw too many veterans cycling through the system without ever getting the treatment they clearly needed," he said. "By creating Veterans Treatment Court and partnering with our local VA Medical Center, we are able to serve a large population of veterans and connect them to the appropriate treatment and benefits."
One such veteran is Tommy Rieman, who graduated from the Fayetteville, North Carolina Veterans Treatment Court in 2014 and is now the executive director of a non-profit serving injured and wounded veterans. "Veterans Treatment Court gave me the tools I needed to live a healthy, productive life. Thanks to Veterans Treatment Court I am reunited with my family and am working to support my fellow veterans. Veterans Treatment Court saved my life."
About Justice For Vets
The non-profit Justice For Vets leads the national effort to establish Veterans Treatment Courts within reach of every veteran in need. Justice For Vets is building a National Mentor Corps of volunteer veterans to serve in Veterans Treatment Court, provides ongoing training and technical assistance to the Veterans Treatment Court field, shapes public opinion through aggressive media outreach, and advocates for state and federal legislation, and annually hosts Vet Court Con, the nation's only training conference dedicated to justice-involved veterans. For more information visit www.JusticeForVets.org.
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