The French Parliament has begun reviewing a draft bill aimed at strengthening the accountability of minors for serious crimes.
The National Assembly will consider the bill, introduced by Gabriel Attal, the leader of the pro-presidential bloc “Together for the Republic” and former prime minister.
Attal describes the draft as a measure to “restore the authority of justice over juvenile offenders and their parents” and as a response to the cases of “increasingly uncontrollable violence” by young people.
One such high-profile case occurred about two weeks ago, when a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old demanded a 14-year-old hand over his phone, and after his refusal, they severely stabbed him, causing injuries that led to his death.
The key change proposed in the bill is to allow the “immediate appearance” procedure for minors suspected of committing serious crimes, which would enable the trial to begin immediately after arrest if there is compelling evidence. The bill also seeks to remove the status of minority as a mitigating circumstance, a provision that has been in place since 1945.
Attal suggests acknowledging that “a minor in 2025 is not the same as a minor in 1945.”
Additionally, the bill proposes increasing penalties for the parents of juvenile offenders.
