Forensic Psychiatric and Legal Aspects of Infanticide and Neonaticide in Russia

Abstract

Aims:

To find out clinical and social factors contributing to specific female crimes - infanticide and neonaticide.

Method:

Clinical, descriptive statistical.

Results:

The problem of the murder of children by their mothers remains a burning issue in Russia. The most complicated for forensic psychiatrists are the cases when children were killed by not mentally ill mothers, especially in the situations when women killed their children within 24 hours of birth. Neonaticide reflects mostly social than clinical factors. The research has revealed that these women were young, single or separated and often exposed to psychogenic situations with high level of stress (financial and housing problems, concealment of illegitimate pregnancy). In accordance with the Criminal Code of Russia enacted in 1997 the special law governs infanticide and neonaticide. This law takes into account that:

1. 1. at the time of child murder the mental state of mother was affected by childbirth;

2. 2. the psychogenic situation which caused the crime.

In the cases of infanticide or neonaticide an offence punishable as if women had been guilty of manslaughter.

Conclusion:

Thus due to the new law these cases are dealt more leniently and it reflects more constructive and humane approach to such a complicated phenomenon as child murder.