Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the juvenile criminal cases brought to the district office of forensic medicine and to emphasize if the psychiatric interventions which were carried out in early age affected the adulthood psychopathology and recidivism rate decline.
Method: This study was conducted retrospectively between June 1st 2006 and June 31st 2010 at a four-year-period by examining the data of children those brought to the district office of forensic medicine for a claim of crime. Patients were examined in terms of gender, age, education level, number of siblings, type of offense, type of family with whom the child lives and mental status.
Results: A total of 246 patients were recruited in this study; 217 of them were male and 29 of them were female. The age distribution of 204 patients were between 14 - 15 years old. 108 of them were 14 years old, 96 of them 15 years old and 38 of them 13 years old. Accounting on the distribution patterns of criminal behavior among children between ages and chi-square analysis of the results of analysis of crime patterns among children aged 13 to 14 (all), no significant differences were detected (p>0.05). Among 15 years old children, significantly different crimes against sexual inviolability have been seen according to the other age groups (P <.05). 12 years old children showed significant differences for crimes against the assets compared to other age groups (P <.05). All of the children in this age group have committed crimes against the assets. The highest rate of crimes against bodily integrity (25%) was found in the age group of 14.
Conclusion: Juvenile delinquencies indicate a significant increase in our country, as well as all over the world and appears as a major public health problem. The important factors that affect juvenile delinquency are social environment, family and living conditions as well as the child’s intelligence and psychiatric status. In our study, crimes against sexual inviolability were seen at the age group of 15 significantly more than the other age groups. A number of studies determined that many adult who committed a sexual crime have started this at a young age. For this reason, evaluation for psychiatric and implementation of the necessary treatment strategies on individuals with early age onset of sexual crimes can prevent the transfer of these behaviors to adulthood period.