Overview

• The Senate gave final approval to Gabriel Attal’s juvenile justice reform on May 19, with a vote of 223–112, following the National Assembly’s earlier approval of 341–187 on May 13.
• The law includes measures such as immediate court appearances for repeat offenders aged 16 and over and the reversal of the 'excuse of minority' principle for certain recidivists.
• Parents of delinquent minors face new civil fines for failing to comply with judicial summonses under the reform.
• Critics, including left-wing parties and juvenile justice professionals, have condemned the law as overly punitive, simplistic, and potentially harmful to children’s rights.
• The legislation will now undergo review by the Constitutional Council, which could strike down contested provisions deemed incompatible with international conventions or constitutional principles.