Criminal law in France

French criminal law is called droit pénal. It identifies punishable acts, the conditions for responsibility, available defenses, applicable penalties, and the procedure for deciding a case. An offence is an infraction. French law traditionally divides offences into contraventions, délits, and crimes, with different procedures and courts for each category. Police and gendarmerie services investigate suspected offences under judicial supervision. The procureur de la République, or public prosecutor, decides how many reported cases should proceed and by which route. A suspect may be questioned freely or placed in police custody, known as garde à vue, when legal conditions are met. Custody carries procedural safeguards, including information about the allegation and important defense rights. More complex or serious matters may involve a juge d’instruction. This investigating judge gathers evidence both for and against the person under investigation rather than acting as the trial judge. Criminal courts assess evidence, legal responsibility, and any penalty. Possible outcomes include dismissal, acquittal, fines, restrictions, community-based measures, imprisonment, or combinations allowed by law. A victim may report an offence and seek compensation for harm. By becoming a partie civile where appropriate, the victim can participate in the criminal process and present a civil compensation claim. A final criminal decision can sometimes be reviewed through an appeal or another defined remedy. The available path depends on the decision and procedure, so the complete notice should be preserved.