Psychiatric Morbidity in Children in Contact with the Indian Legal SystemA Pilot Study

Background: Many children world over end up having tussles with the legal systems and coming under their purview results in them facing challenges which negatively impact their psyche. Aim and Objectives: to assess the psychiatric impact of being in contact with the legal system in children. Materials and Methods: it was retrospective study carried out over a period of 12 months, from 1st January 2024 to 31st December,2024. All medicolegal records of children brought to psychiatry department were retrieved and data was collected as per a designed performa to assess their sociodemographic, clinical and legal profile. Results: A total of 11 children were included in the study out of which 10 were males of age range 13-17 years with an average age of 16.09 ± 1.22 years. 36.36% children had studied till middle grade. 54.45% were still students. 54.45% belonged to lower socioeconomic status. 5 out of them belonged to single parent family with 72.72% had either parent suffering from alcoholism and 90.90% reported witnessing domestic violence at home. 54.45% were migrants. 28% were diagnosed with adjustment disorder after getting in contact with the legal system. 3 of the children had illness preceding the contact with the legal system. 72.72% had comorbid substance use with tobacco use being the most common. Sleep disturbances were the most commonly reported symptom. All were involved in criminal cases with 2 of them having been incarcerated for a period of 2 years. Worries pertaining to duration of case (72.7%) and implications of case (100%) were reported. Conclusion: Adolescent boys with low educational achievement, belonging to lower socioeconomic status, migrant and disrupted families were found as risk factors children getting in conflict with law. Keywords: juvenile delinquency, children in conflict with law, child victims, psychiatry comorbidity, legal profile MeSH terms: Juvenile Delinquency / legislation & jurisprudence Juvenile Delinquency / rehabilitation* Mental Disorders / rehabilitation*