A shortage of forensic psychologists in Ibiza is reportedly delaying around 100 judicial proceedings, including cases involving sexual violence and some victims who are minors.

Judicial sources say the lack of specialists is preventing the preparation of forensic psychological reports needed for certain proceedings to move forward. Some of the affected cases have reportedly been accumulating in Ibiza's courts for years.

Forensic reports needed to advance cases

Forensic psychologists provide expert psychological assessments for the justice system. Their work can include assessing psychological harm, evaluating people involved in judicial proceedings and preparing reports requested by courts.

Spain's Justice Administration states that forensic psychology professionals form part of the multidisciplinary services of the Institutes of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences. These services include specialised assessment in cases involving gender-based and sexual violence.

In cases involving sexual violence, these assessments can form part of the evidence considered during judicial proceedings. Spanish legislation also provides for comprehensive forensic assessment units dealing with sexual violence against women, girls and boys.

Ibiza has struggled to fill the position

The current situation is linked to difficulties in filling forensic psychology positions on the island.

According to judicial sources, the cost of living in Ibiza compared with the available salary has made it difficult to attract specialists willing to take up the posts. The permanent forensic psychologist has been on leave since April 2025.

The position was subsequently covered by an interim professional for 11 months before that psychologist voluntarily left the post, according to the same sources.

Substitute psychologist expected in October

A temporary solution is expected from 1 October 2026, when a substitute forensic psychologist is due to join the service.

The incoming professional comes from a pool of available interim staff and has been undergoing the necessary training this week, according to judicial sources.

The appointment has reportedly been facilitated by a new island supplement of approximately €500 gross per month.

The arrival should provide additional capacity to address the backlog, although the available information does not establish how quickly the accumulated cases will be resolved.

Sexual offences increased in the first quarter

The staffing shortage comes as Ibiza and Formentera have recorded an increase in registered sexual offences.

During the first quarter of 2026, the two islands recorded 349 sexual offences, compared with 287 during the same period of 2025. The figures include offences against sexual freedom and other offences included within the judicial classification cited in the report.

That represents 62 more recorded offences than during the first quarter of the previous year.

The figure should not be confused with the number of proceedings affected by the shortage. There is no evidence in the information reviewed that all, or even most, of those 349 cases require a forensic psychological report.

Cases involving minors among those affected

Judicial sources say some of the proceedings awaiting forensic psychological reports involve minors who are victims of sexual violence.

The delay is particularly significant in cases where psychological assessments are required as part of the judicial process, as the absence of the necessary specialist report can prevent certain procedural steps from progressing.

The available information does not provide a breakdown of the approximately 100 delayed proceedings by offence, age of the victims or length of time each case has been pending.

A wider challenge for forensic services

The situation highlights the difficulty of maintaining specialised judicial services on an island where recruitment can be affected by the relationship between salaries and living costs.

The planned October appointment provides an immediate reinforcement, but it does not by itself establish that the underlying recruitment problem has been permanently resolved.

For now, around 100 proceedings are reportedly awaiting forensic psychological work, with some cases having remained in the courts for an extended period.

The arrival of the substitute psychologist on 1 October is expected to increase the service's capacity to begin addressing the accumulated workload.