Commentary: the role of forensic psychiatry in the asylum process

There has been a substantial growth of law school clinics and law firms doing pro bono work to aid individuals seeking asylum in the United States. At the same time, the federal government has been placing in detention more individuals who are here illegally. The number of immigration cases awaiting resolution has surpassed 200,000. The absence of a clear U.S. immigration policy contributes to this development. The conflicts in Iran and Afghanistan have resulted in an increase in the number of individuals seeking asylum. Psychiatric evaluations and psychological testing that provide organized life histories coupled with diagnostic evaluations of the effects of past trauma are relevant to the criteria needed for refugee status. Courts have found them useful, and attorneys and clinics are requesting them. Several forensic training programs have set up consultation agreements with these programs and are finding them to be excellent training experiences for fellows who can help not only with the formal evaluations but also in educating law students in relation to their interviewing techniques and boundary problems that arise in a professional relationship.