the Minister of Justice sends a circular to prosecutors to specify the measures for those under 16

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal spoke about it on January 30. Details of the educational measures were sent to prosecutors on Tuesday.

In a circular on measures of educational interest sent Tuesday evening, April 30 to prosecutors, Éric Dupond-Moretti details the measures for minors under 16 years old, franceinfo learned from Matignon and the Ministry of Justice.

Last Monday, April 22, while traveling in Nice, Gabriel Attal announced that the Minister of Justice was going to sign “next week” the text to allow entry into force “as soon as the holidays return” Easter of educational community work, the equivalent of the community service sentence for minors aged 13 to 16, in particular first-time offenders.

This circular includes several measures aimed at young people responsible for damage, insults or disturbances to public order. This is a three-stage action: firstly, a restorative activity lasting a maximum of 20 hours. This could be a heritage restoration activity, an ecological activity or even a contribution to an association or local authority. Then, the circular announces a sequence of reflection on living together, an educational action lasting 4 hours maximum to recall the rights and duties of citizens and the values ​​of the Republic. Finally, the text speaks of an educational support action between the family and the school establishment.

The minor concerned by these measures must begin the three periods within a maximum of three months after the decision of the public prosecutor’s office.

A new way to “repair”

This work of educational interest is part of the section of “new sanctions” announced by Gabriel Attal during his general policy speech in January. On January 30, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced the establishment of “work of educational interest” for juvenile delinquents under the age of 16, whom he defined as “equivalents” to community sentences. This work will not be penalties, franceinfo learned on January 31 from the Ministry of Justice, but educational measures which could be imposed by a children’s prosecutor’s office as an alternative to prosecution.

Note that the criminal reparation service has existed for 30 years. Rather than placement in a closed educational center or a fine, young people must follow an internship, within six months, to “fix” the crimes they committed: violence, theft, damage, sexual assault or even school harassment. The magistrate chooses for these young first-time offenders a more educational solution which involves a “Second chance”.