Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
4w ago

French Senate Reviews Juvenile Justice Reform After Key Provisions Removed

The proposed law, originally focused on stricter penalties for minors and parents, faces revisions as lawmakers debate its balance between punitive and rehabilitative approaches.

Image
Quartier des mineurs de la maison d’arrêt de Brest, en septembre.
Un éducateur de la protection judiciaire de la jeunesse à temps plein, c’est 25 jeunes suivis par an.
Image

Overview

  • The Senate is set to deliberate on March 25, 2025, on a revised juvenile justice reform bill after its legal commission removed controversial measures like immediate sentencing for minors over 16 and penalties for parents.
  • The initial version of the law, championed by Gabriel Attal, sought to 'restore authority' through harsher penalties, but has faced criticism for prioritizing punishment over rehabilitation.
  • Critics argue the reform ignores systemic issues like chronic underfunding and understaffing in the Protection Judiciaire de la Jeunesse, with over 4,300 judicial measures delayed due to resource shortages.
  • Evidence highlights the ineffectiveness of detention in reducing recidivism and its correlation with higher suicide risks among minors, fueling opposition to the law’s punitive focus.
  • Divisions persist within the government and judiciary, with some lawmakers pushing to restore the original provisions while others advocate for systemic reforms and increased support for minors and their families.