From Persecution to Prison - Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Difficulty Obtaining Dental CareDental care was another area where there were frequent reports of greatdifficulty accessing services. For example, one detainee reported that hebegan experiencing a toothache in August, and filled out a request to see adoctor. He was finally taken to a dentist in November, for a temporary filling.The pain went away for a short period but then returned. Thedetainee reports being told that he could have the tooth pulled, or waituntil he was free to have restorative treatment. When interviewed, thisdetained asylum seeker had been in detention for two years and ninemonths. He explained:For little problems, it’s quick. For bigger problems, they need permissionfrom Washington. The doctor is very good here, but is limited in what[the doctor] can do, and the doctor says, ‘I am very sorry, but I can nothelp you’. For many problems, the doctors were good but the INS systemwas not.Other detained asylum seekers reported a similar understanding of theprocess of obtaining dental care. One detainee had two teeth extracted indetention and subsequently had gum bleeding. He reported being told thatif he stayed for more than six months, they would look into it. At the timeof the interview he was using salt and water to rinse, but said it was nothelping him.Another detainee complained of tooth problems, such as cavities. Thesubject reported that he was told he couldn’t see a dentist unless he hadbeen in detention more than six months. But he never did see a dentist,even after six months; he still had the problem.One detainee reported that he complained every day for three monthsbefore receiving care for a painful tooth. He reports that when the toothwas finally pulled, it was before the anesthetic set in. He reports beinghandcuffed during the “very painful” procedure.Another subject stated that while in detention she experienced a severetoothache. She “had it for a while, and it got worse.” She reports that shesaw a nurse who said she would be allowed to see an outside specialist,but eight months later she still had not. Instead she was given a genericpain pill, which didn’t help, and the pain worsened.One female detainee had suffered a broken tooth when she was hit withthe butt of a gun by a soldier in her country of origin. She reports thatwhile in detention, she still suffered a great deal of pain from this.They gave me some pain medicine,- the same as for my headache, but ithasn’t helped. The tooth is broken in half where I was hit.After five months in detention, she was granted asylum and releasedand subsequently received dental care at an outside clinic.PHYSICAL HEALTH, MEDICAL PROBLEMS AND MEDICAL CARE 99
Another detained asylum seeker reported the following:After one week in detention, I started having a problem with my tooth. Icomplained to them. They gave me toothpaste and said put it there. Iasked many times to see a dentist, but they said it was not a serious problem.The tooth hurt every day. It was only after five months, a new doctorarranged for me to go outside to see a dentist. I went outside and [thedentist] removed it and it felt much better, I have had two teeth removed.Another subject stated he had tooth pain that started in his country oforigin, when he was hit on the head. He felt that the care he received indetention for the pain was poor and inadequate.I asked every time – they say ok go back – not until four months do theysay ok, take an appointment to see a (dentist). I don’t know why it tookso long. And then when I finally saw him he only took out 1 tooth – Ihave six teeth hurting me. The dentist said the report from the doctor inthe detention center was to take out only one. Since then I haven’t seenthe dentist again. I ask to see the dentist again many times. But they tellme they don’t have any appointments with him.One detainee reported a painful wisdom tooth, for which he wasrepeatedly given pain medicine which gave little relief. After five months,the detainee reports that he finally saw a dentist who recommendedextraction. The detainee reports being told there was delay in having thetooth removed while they awaited approval for surgery from Washington.The doctor gave me Naproxen (an aspirin-like analgesic). [the doctor]said ‘I’m sorry for the delay, because there are too many chiefs over me.’It was very painful and I put a request in every week for sick call.He reports being told that a second request was sent to Washingtonwhich was approved. Finally, approximately 1 year after the individualfirst complained about his tooth, he reports it was removed, and after thesurgery, it felt much better.Difficulty Obtaining Eye CareObtaining adequate eye care was another area several detainees reportedsignificant difficulties with. For example, one detainee with visual difficultieswho was initially evaluated by health staff at an INS facility reportedthat it was several months before he was finally seen by an eye doctor.The doctor at the detention center told me there was no money leftbecause it was going toward the end of the year, but that maybe in thenew year they could help.Finally, after several months, he was seen by an eye doctor who prescribedglasses. But before he got the glasses, he was transferred to a100 FROM PERSECUTION TO PRISON
Page 2 and 3:
From Persecution to Prison:The Heal
Page 4 and 5:
CONTENTSAcknowledgements . . . . .
Page 6:
The Bellevue/NYU Program for Surviv
Page 9 and 10:
don, Miranda Ip, and Meriam Alrashi
Page 11 and 12:
Significant symptoms of depression
Page 13 and 14:
Detained asylum seekers participati
Page 15 and 16:
persecution, yet most emphasized ho
Page 17 and 18:
In many facilities, the response to
Page 19 and 20:
years in detention, she finally got
Page 21 and 22:
abuse For example, while being take
Page 23 and 24:
They didn’t let me use the phone
Page 25 and 26:
intensely personal events they had
Page 27 and 28:
Limitations of this study include t
Page 29 and 30:
Non-governmental organizations serv
Page 31 and 32:
22 FROM PERSECUTION TO PRISON
Page 33 and 34:
the late 1990s ranging from 10 to 7
Page 35 and 36:
Historical BackgroundFor most of th
Page 37 and 38:
international standards with the 19
Page 39 and 40:
apply for asylum make up the majori
Page 41 and 42:
tion judge. 57 Yet in many parts of
Page 43 and 44:
York and Newark, New Jersey has had
Page 45 and 46:
trict began denying parole to them
Page 47 and 48:
Correctional Facility in 2000. “[
Page 49 and 50:
men of which 750 were detained on i
Page 51 and 52:
from that same country from seeking
Page 53 and 54:
Detention Facilities in this StudyF
Page 55 and 56:
high reliability in numerous langua
Page 57 and 58: 48 FROM PERSECUTION TO PRISON
Page 59 and 60: York County Prison in York Pennsylv
Page 61 and 62: TABLE 2:Demographic Characteristics
Page 63 and 64: TABLE 4:Prevalence of Pre-Migration
Page 65 and 66: on a part time basis, researchers w
Page 67 and 68: Case #1(DK): “Loneliness and Fear
Page 69 and 70: TABLE 6:Hopkins Symptom Checklist-2
Page 71 and 72: TABLE 8:Harvard Trauma Questionnair
Page 73 and 74: think such services were available.
Page 75 and 76: When I am talking to you now it is
Page 77 and 78: After being granted asylum and rele
Page 79 and 80: “Being here is like going through
Page 81 and 82: In my country even though I became
Page 83 and 84: how long they were there - six mont
Page 85 and 86: Thoughts of SuicideSeveral asylum s
Page 87 and 88: here?’ I told the doctor, they br
Page 89 and 90: Another subject reported a positive
Page 91 and 92: substantial distance from their att
Page 93 and 94: eported that her experience in dete
Page 97 and 98: e somatic manifestations of the psy
Page 99 and 100: Case #2 (JG): “Health Care in Cha
Page 101 and 102: TABLE 11:Detainee Perceptions of He
Page 103 and 104: TABLE 13:Availability and Quality o
Page 105 and 106: detainees, or because they did not
Page 107: Difficulty Obtaining Specialized Ca
Page 111 and 112: One detainee who speaks French and
Page 115 and 116: Detention Facilities in this StudyS
Page 117 and 118: even though many reported having ex
Page 119 and 120: CASE #3 (HN): “SOLITARY CONFINEME
Page 121 and 122: Here, I’m scared. In [the detenti
Page 123 and 124: emote control and watch what he wan
Page 125 and 126: Whenever someone misbehaves, they t
Page 127 and 128: This subject was himself threatened
Page 129 and 130: One detainee reported several incid
Page 131 and 132: Some Process Exists to Respond to R
Page 133 and 134: There were no witnesses other than
Page 135 and 136: tion. An INS officer said they put
Page 137 and 138: There is an Anglican minister who c
Page 139 and 140: The dentists didn’t explain anyth
Page 141 and 142: tion between dental age and chronol
Page 143 and 144: Case #4 (LK): “Fifteen-Year-Old G
Page 147 and 148: TABLE 16:Treatment/Abuses Reported
Page 149 and 150: “There is no political asylum her
Page 151 and 152: I was crying. I was so afraid with
Page 153 and 154: save her life, but was not able to
Page 155 and 156: Case #5 (CR): “Begging for Mercy
Page 157 and 158: ehind and told me to sign. He physi
Page 159 and 160:
days and it is now 2 years and four
Page 161 and 162:
viewers asked for additional inform
Page 163 and 164:
y study participants. In evaluating
Page 165 and 166:
trast, under US law, detention of s
Page 167 and 168:
nation for an asylum determination
Page 169 and 170:
very negative effects of detention
Page 171 and 172:
authority to grant asylum and with
Page 173 and 174:
absconding.” 250 Since the passag
Page 175 and 176:
said “[F]reedom from imprisonment
Page 177 and 178:
Standards relevant to this study ar
Page 179 and 180:
“detained person” generally as
Page 181 and 182:
which they are charged and a fair h
Page 183 and 184:
esponse to substantial public press
Page 185 and 186:
specified procedures, provided they
Page 187 and 188:
PunishmentThe Detention Standard on
Page 189 and 190:
any time the detainee complains.”
Page 191 and 192:
Page 193 and 194:
while in detention, thus adding to
Page 195 and 196:
Establish a Uniform National Parole
Page 197 and 198:
that effect. These officers should
Page 199 and 200:
Besides their inaccuracy, these exa
Page 201 and 202:
friends so asylum seekers can maint
Page 203 and 204:
appropriate staffing of such groups
Page 205 and 206:
efugees and asylum seekers who win
Page 207 and 208:
Page 209 and 210:
of thorough documentation. However,
Page 211 and 212:
Human development is complex and di
Page 213 and 214:
18. Country from which fleeing pers
Page 215 and 216:
9. Being close to death.10. Forced
Page 217 and 218:
Complete for each health problem:5.
Page 219 and 220:
Explain:(Interviewer: Write brief n
Page 221 and 222:
2. Depression SymptomsA How much we
Page 223 and 224:
B. You said that you have experienc
Page 225 and 226:
Explain:13. How was your physical h
Page 227 and 228:
Yes ...........1No............22. W
Page 229 and 230:
Explain:20. At the time of your arr
show all

From Persecution to Prison - Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?