What is a supplementary sentence?
Verified 27 April 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice
An additional penalty is a penalty that comes complete the main sentence pronounced against the author of a contravention, of a offense or a crime. In matters relating to fines and correctional, it may also replace the main sentence. This type of sanction varies depending on the nature and severity of the the offense committed. We present you the information you need to know.
Contravention
In principle, the main sentence for a contravention is the fine. The police court may also impose a custodial or restrictive penalty (e.g. immobilization of the vehicle of the convicted person for a period of 6 months) or penalty-reparation.
Additional penalties may add yourself to the main penalty.
In some cases, the police court may decide to replace the main sentence with one or more additional sentences.
When a regulation provides, a contravention may be punished by one or more additional penalties. These penalties may take several forms:
- Suspension of driving license. In some cases, the convicted person may drive to carry out his professional activity despite the suspension.
- Prohibition on holding or wearing a weapon subject to authorization, for 3 years
- Confiscation of a weapon
- Withdrawal of the hunting license with prohibition to apply for the issuance of a new license, for a maximum of 3 years
- Confiscation of the thing that was used to commit the offense
- Prohibition to drive a land motor vehicle (e.g. a car or motorcycle)
- Internship (e.g. awareness-raising course on road safety, the dangers of drug use, combating the purchase of sexual acts, etc.)
- Confiscation of the animal used in or against which the offense was committed
- Prohibition of keeping an animal for a maximum of 3 years
- Withdrawal of the "boat" license.
For 5th class tickets, 3 other additional penalties may be imposed: penalty reparation, the prohibition on issuing checks for a maximum of 3 years and the community service for a period of 20 to 120 hours.
Even though these penalties are provided for in the regulations, police court who decides whether or not to pronounce one or more additional persons against the sentenced person.
The author of the contravention who fails to comply with the additional sentence imposed on him shall be subject to further sanctions. They differ depending on the role of the supplementary sentence:
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The additional penalty is in addition to the main penalty
A convicted person who fails to fulfill the obligations imposed on him by the additional penalty shall be liable to a penalty of 2 years' imprisonment and €30,000 of a fine.
The additional penalty replaces the main penalty
The penalty for non-compliance with the additional penalty shall be fixed at the initial trial. This penalty may not exceed the principal penalty for the offense committed.
Misdemeanor
The main sentence for one offense may be one of the following sanctions:
- Imprisonment (whether or not accompanied by reprieve)
- Detention at home under electronic surveillance
- Community service work
- Fine
- Days-fine
- Deprivation or restriction of rights (e.g. cancelation of driving license with prohibition to apply for a new license for 5 years)
- Penalty-reparation.
Additional penalties may add yourself to the main sentence.
In some cases, the correctional court may decide to replace the main sentence with one or more additional sentences. For example, in the case of violence, the criminal court may decide to replace the prison sentence with a prohibition of professional activity and confiscation of the thing that was used to commit the offense.
Where the law so provides, a offense may be punished by one or more additional penalties. These penalties may take several forms:
- A prohibition (for example, a prohibition on holding or wearing a weapon subject to authorization)
- The forfeiture, incapacity or withdrawal of a right (loss of the right to vote, inability to manage a business, suspension of the driving license, etc.)
- One injunction for care
- An obligation to do (for example, an obligation to have a socio-judicial monitoring)
- The immobilization of property (for example, the immobilization of a vehicle)
- Confiscation of property
- Confiscation of an animal
- Closure of an establishment
- Posting of the court decision.
These sentences are directly related the offense committed.
Example :
The author of violence or unintentional injuries shall be subject to additional penalties such as prohibition of carrying a weapon subject to authorization, suspension of a driving license, confiscation of vehicles.
The author of a theft incurs additional penalties such as the prohibition of civil, civil and family rights (e.g. right to vote), the prohibition of residence on French territory, the prohibition of possession of a weapon subject to authorization.
Even though these penalties are provided for by law, it is the correctional court who decides whether or not to impose the additional penalty or penalties applicable to the sentenced person.
For certain offenses, that court is obliged to impose certain additional penalties, unless it makes a reasoned decision. For example, unless a reasoned decision is made, the penalty of ineligibility must be pronounced for certain offenses such as violence, discrimination or the scam.
FYI
The criminal court that sentences the author to a supplementary sentence may impose a simple reprieve, except where he has ordered a confiscation, the closure of an establishment or the posting of the decision.
The most pronounced additional sentences are as follows:
- Prohibition of issuing checks for a period of 5 years
- Prohibition to use a credit card for a period of 5 years
- Confiscation of property, including property used in the commission of the offense
- Confiscation of the animal that was used to commit the offense or on which it was committed
- Prohibition of civil, family and civil rights (right to vote, eligibility, right to testify before the courts, etc.) for a period of 5 years
- Cancelation of driving license
- Suspension of driving license
- Temporary ban on driving certain vehicles
- Prohibition on holding or wearing a weapon subject to authorization
- Prohibition of keeping an animal for a maximum of 3 years
- Prohibition from holding a public or professional office, definitively or for a period of 5 years
- Prohibition of French territory for foreigners including nationals of a European Union countries, definitive or of 10 years maximum. In the case of imprisonment, this prohibition applies from the moment of release from prison
- Closure of an establishment
- Posting or dissemination of the court decision at the expense of the convicted person. The display or dissemination of the decision may include the identity of the victim only with his or her consent, that of his or her legal representative or its rights holders
- Penalty-reparation
- Socio-judicial monitoring (which may be accompanied by a injunction for care).
The author of a offense who fails to comply with the additional sentence imposed on him shall be subject to further sanctions. They differ depending on the role of the supplementary sentence:
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The additional penalty is in addition to the main penalty
A convicted person who fails to fulfill the obligations imposed on him by the additional penalty shall be liable to a penalty of 2 years' imprisonment and €30,000 of a fine.
The additional penalty replaces the main penalty
The penalty for non-compliance with the additional penalty shall be fixed at the initial trial. This penalty must be less severe than the main sentence for the offense committed and may not exceed 2 years' imprisonment and €30,000 of a fine.
Crime
The main penalty for a crime is there criminal imprisonment.
The court of assizes or criminal court may impose an additional sentence which is added to the main sentence.
Please note
The court hearing the case cannot decide to replace the main sentence with a supplementary sentence.
Where the law so provides, a crime may be punished by one or more additional penalties. These penalties may take several forms:
- A prohibition (for example, a prohibition on holding or wearing a weapon subject to authorization)
- The forfeiture, incapacity or withdrawal of a right (loss of the right to vote, inability to manage a business, suspension of the driving license, etc.)
- One injunction for care
- An obligation to do (for example, an obligation to have a socio-judicial monitoring)
- The immobilization of property (for example, the immobilization of a vehicle)
- Confiscation of property
- Confiscation of an animal
- Closure of an establishment
- Posting of the court decision.
These additional penalties are directly related to the crime committed.
Example :
The alleged perpetrator of a murder or assassination shall be subject to additional penalties such as prohibition of commercial or industrial activity, confiscation of the thing used to commit this crime, temporary or permanent prohibition of keeping an animal, etc.
The perpetrator of a crime of terrorism is liable to additional penalties such as the prohibition of civil, civil and family rights for a period of 15 years, the prohibition of residence for a period of 15 years, etc.
Even though these penalties are provided for by law, it is court of assizes or criminal court which lays down the additional penalty or penalties applicable to the sentenced person.
In some cases, these courts are obliged to impose certain additional penalties, except reasoned decision. For example, the penalty of ineligibility must be pronounced for all crimes, unless the assize court or the criminal court gives reasons.
FYI
The court that sentences the author to a supplementary sentence may impose a simple reprieve, except where he has ordered a confiscation, the closure of an establishment or the posting of the decision.
The perpetrator of a crime that does not comply with the additional sentence imposed on him or her shall be subject to further sanctions. They shall be determined by the additional penalty imposed at the initial trial.
In most cases, the penalty is 2 years in prison and €30,000 of a fine.
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Penalties and additional principles for a contravention
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Additional penalties for crimes and misdemeanors
Penalties for non-compliance with additional criminal and delinquent penalties
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