Psychiatric Expertise in Benin Penal Justice Context: What Do They Reveal?

Abstract

In this study, the authors describe the profile of people seen in criminal psychiatric expertise in northern Benin and their results. It covered the 138 psychiatric assessments carried out as part of criminal proceedings in the years 2017 and 2018. Expertises were on men in 94.9% of the cases. They were over 30 years old in 66.2% of cases. They were prosecuted for blood crimes in 89.5% of cases. The defendants were in detention at the time of the expert in 87.5% of cases. Psychiatric experts diagnosed a psychiatric disorder in 22.8% of cases. There was a relationship between the identified psychiatric disorder and the offense that motivated the charge in 25.8% of the mental disorder cases. It was exclusively cases of psychotic disorders. There was an abolition of discernment in 3.8% of the accused.