Psychological Assessment of Minors Involved in Civil and Criminal Proceedings, Through Projective Download PDF

In protecting the rights of children, the courts have an extremely important role, that of promoting and guaranteeing these rights regarding personal identity, family life, protection against violence, and ensuring the realization of their rights. As practitioners of law and psychology, we highlighted the opportunity and necessity of relaunching the discussions between specialists: magistrates/judges and prosecutors, psychologists, in the context where the courts are an unknown and authoritarian environment for children, and the multidisciplinary approach would contribute to the realization of an act of justice appropriate to the needs of children and can be a premise that can lead the courts and prosecutors to adopt a new way of solving such cases. This article supports the importance of the psychological assessment in the decision of the magistrate, considering the best interest of the minor. From the children's perspective, the courts are unfamiliar and intimidating places, which is why it is necessary to collaborate between specialists: magistrates, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and medical personnel to contribute to the achievement of a specific, qualitative act of justice appropriate to the particularities of children.