Factors Affecting Recidivism in Children Drawn into Crime

Forensic psychiatry is an intersection where the fields of law and psychiatry perform joint functions. It is observed that children and adolescents are involved in forensic cases at significant rates both in our country and globally. This study aims to explore the differences between children drawn into crime and victims, as well as the factors influencing recidivism, by evaluating forensic cases over a three-year period.

This study evaluated the records of 232 patients, who met the study criteria and had detailed data, from a total of 257 forensic cases seen at the child psychiatry clinic between October 2020 and October 2023.

Regression analysis was conducted to identify factors most strongly associated with recidivism. The following variables were found to be significantly related to repeat offending, independent of other factors: parental separation (b=1.607, Exp (b)=4.988, p=0.005), presence of drug use (b=2.255, Exp (b)=9.536, p=0.009), and a history of crime among first-degree relatives (b=3.279, Exp (b)=26.551, p<0.001). No significant differences were observed in psychiatric diagnoses between children with repeat offenses and those undergoing their initial forensic evaluations.

Drug use, a history of crime in first-degree relatives, and parental separation were significant factors in the occurrence and continuation of criminal behavior. To address child crime—a pressing social issue—it is essential to investigate the factors contributing to recidivism. Future research should focus on larger, long-term studies that incorporate diverse cultural and regional characteristics to develop more effective prevention and intervention strategies.