By Danielle Kushner, MD
Associate Chief of Mental Health, NYC Health and Hospitals, Correctional Health Services
Associate Program Director, NYU Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship

Danielle Kushner, MD

The American Psychiatric Association Council on Psychiatry and Law is a national body responsible for evaluating key areas of legal and regulatory issues that influence the practice of psychiatry and offer expertise in specialized areas of forensic psychiatry. The Council includes the Committee of Judicial Action, providing expertise for appellate cases and determining whether the APA should submit amicus curiae briefs, and the Carceral Psychiatry Workgroup, leading actions related to carceral (correctional) psychiatry. Recent Council work has included Resource Documents on Person Centered Language in Jails and Prisons and Role of Psychiatrists in the Post-Roe Era, along with Position Statements on a variety of topics including the legalization of cannabis, “excited delirium,” civil commitment for substance use, insanity defense, among others.

Attention: Are you a local psychiatrist treating patients interfacing with legal and community psychiatry systems? Are you looking for like-minded colleagues to discuss challenges, support, and brainstorm solutions?

The Council has recently supported the initiation of the Justice Psychiatry Caucus to connect with other APA members about the important work of caring and advocating for people involved in the criminal justice system.

The Justice Psychiatry Caucus held its first meeting during the APA Annual Meeting in May, 2026 and started the discussion about ways we can advocate for patients, improve the system, and support those working in this important but challenging area of psychiatry.

The first virtual meeting of the Justice Psychiatry Caucus will be held on Wednesday, October 14th, 2026, at 5:00 pm ET.

Please reach out to [email protected] for further information. All APA members are welcome to join!

Current and past members of the Council on Psychiatry and Law from New York (Area 2 of the APA) include: Jack Drescher, MD; Carl Fisher, MD; Elizabeth Ford, MD, Abhishek Jain, MD; Danielle Kushner, MD, and Gary Graca, MD. Thank you for your hard work and dedication!