Criminal Justice Statistics in France

Proportion (%)

Reports received

5 319 320

100.0

unknown perpetrator

3 299 203

62.0

Cases opened

4 996 642

100.0

Non-prosecutable cases

3 610 142

72,3

100,0

incorrect offence classification,  other juridical reason

382 150

7.7

10,6

défaut d'élucidation

Prosecutable cases

1 386 500

27,7

100.0

classified as ‘no further proceedings’¹

387 013

7,7

27,9 [a]

14 788

0,3

1,1[b]

alternatives to prosecution

330 186

6,6

23,8 [c]

prosecution

654 513

13,1

47,2 [d]

before the tribunal correctionnel

409 768

before the tribunal de police

149 380

before an investigating judge

35 202

before a judge for children

55432

4 731

Overall penal action rate (b + c+ d)

72,1

Investigations completed within the year

34 839

without mise en examen

11 740

Classification of cases at opening of investigation

Grave offences (crimes)

7 945

Serious offences (délits)

26 779

Minor offences (contraventions)

12

Investigations of cause of death

103

Average duration of investigation (in months)

18,2

Grave offences (crimes)

18,9

Serious offences (délits)

18,0

No. of persons

Suspects under questioning (mise en examen)

in investigations completed in 2003

47 370

Referred to the cour d’assises

3 251

Referred to the tribunal correctionel

34 669

Referred to the judge for children

4 033

Non-suit (no grounds for prosecution)

3 902

Lack of jurisdiction, prosecution period elapsed, miscellaneous

1 515

Bail

22 631

Remand in custody

19 088

3 587

1 365

Number of decision rendered

%

% change

(2003/02)

All modes of proceeding

399 737

100.0

+2,9

citation or voluntary appearance

97 181

24,3

– 5,0

Order to appear following report

by State prosecutor

by the OPJ or the APJ

Immediate hearing proceedings

Reference by investigating judge

Reference by chambre de l'instruction

332

0,1

+ 14,9

Source:  SDSED (provisional data)

Grave offences, serious offences and 5^th class minor offences

Conviction type

All offenders

Majors

Minors

Grave offences (crimes)

Serious offences (délits)

5^th class minor offences
(contraventions de 5e classe)

Total convictions

Source: SDSED (provisional data)

Categories of Offence by Court (Number of convictions)

Category of the principal offence

All courts

Cour d’assises (majors)

Tribunal correctionnel

Tribunal de police

All offences

525 053

2 735

357 451

106 942

offences against persons

88 837

2 120

58 216

15 019

voluntary homicide

504

472

-

-

rape

1 687

1 239

-

-

voluntary assault and injury

45 250

313

31 705
 

5 944

involuntary homicide and injury

18 219

1

8 046

8 772

      ... including by drivers

16 655

-

7 257

8 256

offences against property

126 933

472

96 764

2 395

theft, concealment of stolen goods, destruction, damage

114 863

470

86 729

2 395

economic and financial offences

16 705

2

11 992

2 628

cheques

2 052

-

1 875

-

illegal labour

4 277

-

3 818

-

Road traffic and transportation

218 102

-

128 174

83 787

driving while intoxicated

105 130

-

102 184

-

driving without insurance

25 488

-

241

25 167

great excess of speed

30 054

-

30

29 720

other offences

74 476

141

62 305

3 113

drugs¹

26 745

11

23 276

-

17 319

-

15 008

-

illegal entry /stay by foreigners

5 606

2

5 155

-

¹ Trafficking, possession, transport, sale and use

Source: SDSED (provisional data)
 

Sentences imposed

Type of principal sentence

Number

Average
duration or amount

All sentences

525 053

Criminal confinement

1 243

14.4 years*

for life

29

Imprisonment

281 960

8,4 months

with partly suspended sentence

103 244

Fine

171 859

764 €
(approx. £540)

Alternative sentence

48 103

suspension of driving license

21 482

community service

9 330

11 391

Educational measures

16 342
 

Sentence dispensed

5 54

Length of remand in custody  (months)

Sentences following remand in custody

35 447

5,2

grave offences (crimes)

2 427

23,9

serious offences (délits)

33 012

3,8

in the course of  an investigation
in the course of an immediate appearance

19 819
13 193

6,0
0,5

*Excluding confinement for life

  Lenght of procedure   (months)                      First Instance*

Convictions

Number

%

All convicts

525 053

100.0

Less than 18 years
From 18 to less than 25 years
From 25 to less than 40 years
From 40 to less than 60 years
60 years and older

Men
Women

31 272
162 609
196 442
120 737
13 993

476 968
48 085
 

6,1
31,0
37,4
23,0
2.7

90.8
9.2

French nationals
Foreigners
Nationality undeclared

423 174
70 807
31 072

80.6
13.5
5.9

Source : SDSED (provisional data)