French Law Reinstates Mandatory Incarceration for Short Prison Sentences

The National Assembly's decision reverses 2019 reforms, igniting debate over prison overcrowding, recidivism, and penal philosophy.

On April 3, 2025, the French National Assembly passed a law making incarceration the default for sentences under six months, reversing mandatory adjustments introduced in 2019 reforms.
The new law permits prison sentences of less than one month and removes automatic alternatives like electronic monitoring unless explicitly justified by a judge.
Proposed by the Horizons party, the law was supported by parts of the central bloc and far-right, while left-wing deputies criticized it for exacerbating prison overcrowding and recidivism.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin distanced himself from the law, advocating instead for broader reforms, including 'human-scale' detention centers to address systemic issues.
Proponents argue the law counters an 'anti-prison ideology' and restores state authority, citing a Cour des comptes report suggesting previous adjustments failed to reduce overcrowding.