Data Analysis of Child Support Proceedings in a Superior Court of Justice in Southern Peru

Abstract

This article analyzes judicial child support proceedings for minors in Peru, with an emphasis on the judgment enforcement phase. This is the most critical stage, as it guarantees the right of children and adolescents to receive a decent pension. The objective of the research was to measure the duration of the main procedural stages—admission, processing, and enforcement—noting that appeal proceedings are considered part of enforcement in accordance with the Corporate Model promoted by the Judiciary (Presidency of the Judiciary, 2022). The study aimed to identify bottlenecks that affect the efficiency of the judicial system. A quantitative methodology was applied, based on the review of 358 case files from four Family Magistrate Courts within a Superior Court of Justice in southern Peru, using data cleaning, organization, and processing techniques through Python, Google Colab, and Excel. The results show that, although there are improvements in the admission and processing stages—which conclude with sentencing—the enforcement stage remains slow and unpredictable, with delays exceeding an average of 15 months. This finding reveals that the mere issuance of a resolution does not guarantee substantive justice; it creates a gap between the law and reality, which directly affects the most vulnerable population and poses a challenge to social justice (Ombudsman's Office, 2018). It is concluded that strengthening this stage requires procedural reforms supported by the implementation of new data analysis tools to monitor and optimize case duration, aiming to make the justice system more efficient.