Reproductive Mental Health and the Indian Criminal Legal System

Abstract

The intricate relationship between reproductive mental health and the criminal legal system has not been explored or understood yet in India. A mother might be suffering from reproductive mental disorders while committing crimes like infanticide or neonaticide, which are still understudied. It is vital to develop an understanding of their symptoms and risk factors, which will be enlisted in the chapter. The author aims to highlight the limited approach of the Indian criminal legal system towards perinatal depression and perinatal psychosis and analyze how understanding of such mental disorders can effectively help in the justice delivery system. There are various inconsistencies in the infanticide laws worldwide, which shall also be covered in this chapter. There are certain recommendations presented here that can be utilized to ensure that the infanticide laws are not only punitive but are also reformative and rehabilitative. The author would like to bring to limelight how the education and training of clinical professionals and would-be parents is extremely vital.