August 6, 2008
Dear APA members:
As sponsors and supporters of the referendum, we are
aware that this is a period given to commentary from those
who have introduced the referendum, and that--consistent
with APA policy--such commentary will be considered in
future policy decisions as valid interpretation of the
resolution’s intent. We are also aware that there has been
some concern voiced on several listservs that the resolution
may have 'unintended consequences'; namely that it may
impact the work of psychologists working in existing U.S.
jails, prisons, psychiatric facilities, and hospitals.
While we believe a reading of the full referendum in its
context resolves these concerns, wewould like to be sure
that there are no misunderstandings on this point. We are
therefore using this commentary period to reiterate the
application of the petition, its meaning, and intent:
This referendum is focused on settings such as
Guantánamo Bay and the CIA 'black sites' set up by the U.S.
as part of its 'global war on terror'; settings where the
persons being detained are denied the protections of either
constitutional or international law, settings which have been
denounced by the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and
the International Committee of the Red Cross.
We are well aware of the harms and legal struggles facing
certain prisons and jails inside the domestic U.S. criminal
justice system. However, the referendum takes no position
on such settings where prisoners have full access to
independent counsel and constitutional protections; nor
does the referendum take a position on settings that now
exist within the domestic mental health system where
clients and patients also possess these basic rights.
For Psychologists for an Ethical APA
Dan Aalbers
dan.aalbers@gmail.com
Ruth Fallenbaum
ruthfallenbaum@comcast.net
Brad Olson
b-olson@northwestern.edu
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