Evaluation of Psychiatric Expertise in Criminal Matters Made in Casamance (Senegal/West Africa)

Introduction: The relationship between mental disorders and violent or transgressive behavior is long recognized by the general public and by the laws of most countries. Psychiatric expertise is today an essential tool in the service of justice. It aims to link mental illness and crime to orient sick criminals towards care rather than in prison. Objective: Assess the criminal expertise made in Casamance. Methodology: A retrospective study with descriptive and analytical purposes covering the period from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2023 was carried out at the Ziguinchor psychiatric center. Expert reports and documents of the legal proceedings made it possible to enter our database. The entry was performed on Excel 2013 spreadsheet and analysis by software R 4.3. Results: Out of a total of 42 expertise reports, the study population consisted of men (97.6%), the average age was 34.4 years ± 7.3. They were Senegalese (78.6%), single (69%) and unemployed (26.2%). The professional occupation was unstable (60%). A third of the subjects were educated at the Koranic school and the rest had not exceeded the secondary cycle. Appraisers had psychiatric history (51.22%). Drug consumers represented (40.48%). The diagnosis mentioned by the expert was schizophrenia (42.9%). Appraisers had history of incarceration (6%). The most committed offense was murder (26.2%). The expert had concluded a non-responsibility (52.38%). Conclusion: Our study has noted that the appraisal in criminal is a man, young, single, of low level of instruction and evolving in the informal sector. The study also reveals that the appraises are mainly psychotic and charges are remarkable.