Considerations in Forensic Psychiatric Reports According to Supreme Court ReversalDecisions on Juvenile Delinquents

Objective: It is aimed to determine the causes of supreme court reversal in the field of forensic psychiatry on Juvenile Delinquents andidentifying to issues be considered while preparing a report in terms of compliance with the law.Methods: From website of the Supreme Court https://karararama.yargitay.gov.tr/YargitayBilgiBankasiIstemciWeb/, 691 reversal decisions onforensic psychiatric issues regarding juvenile delinquents were examined by using the words: “child psychiatry”, “child and adolescent mentalhealth”, “child at the age of discretion”, “mental health, child”, “perceiving the legal meaning and consequences, directing their behaviour” and“the child delinquent”.Results: It was determined that the most common reason for reversal in the evaluation of criminal responsibility by age in children (n=208,36.3%) was the absence of social examination report or forensic psychiatric report, used of reports prepared for past crimes in the trial process,the second most common reason (n=169, 29.5%) was the reports which weren’t prepared duly and found insufficient in terms of content. Inthe evaluation of criminal responsibility due to mental illness, it was seen that the most common reason for reversal (n=154, 40.5%) was thatalthough mental illness was stated in the history of psychiatric illness, insufficient investigation was carried out on this subject, and that thesecond most common reason for reversal was (n=130, 34.2%) the decision was made before delegation report was received.Conclusion: The attached template, which is prepared considering the Supreme Court Reversal Decisions, can help to ensure standardizationin the prepared reports.It is important for the prepared reports to contain complete, reasoned and clear opinions, to prevent grievances due tothe judicial process, and to protect the best interests of the child