ABSTRACT

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sociodemographic features of juvenile offenders and their families, characteristics of the crime committed and psychiatric evaluation results of juvenile delinquents, that were referred to İzmir’s biggest children’s hospital for forensic evaluation regarding Turkish penal code article 31/2, by legal forces.

Methods:

This study was carried out by retrospective review of medical records of children and adolescents that were referred to Dr. Behçet Uz Children’s Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department for forensic evaluation regarding Turkish penal code article 31/2 by legal authorities between the dates 11.01.2012 and 05.01.2015.

Results:

Of the whole sample, 86,6% (n=162) were male. Most commonly committed crimes were offences against property, followed by crimes committed against physical integrity. By assessing clinical evaluation reports, it was shown that, 19,7% (n=37) of the cases had a history of engaging in repetitive criminal behavior, 46% (n=86) had a history of crime committed in their family, and 49,2% of the cases were reported to have gained the developmental level of ability to perceive the legal meaning and consequences of the crime and to direct his/her behaviors related with the crime committed. It was found that cases who had committed more than one crime and had a history of crime committed in their families, were much more likely to have been diagnosed with any psychiatric disorder.

Discussion:

It is thought that determining the requirements of children under risk along with their biopsychosocial defi ciencies, taking precautions and providing support according to these defi ciencies would be important in order to decrease rates of child delinquency.