Community service (TIG)

Verified 07 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

You're being sued for a offense punishable by imprisonment or contravention of 5th class ? Criminal courts may order you to perform community service (TIG) if you don't object. TIG is a job volunteer which allows you to reinsert you by participating in a professional activity useful to the business. We present you the information to know.

The TIG is a sentence that consists for the convicted, and with his consent, to complete a certain number of working hours unpaid serving the community.

For example, you volunteer for a public organization or association, under the supervision of an individual.

TIG can be pronounced as:

  • Main sentence (for example, for a flight)
  • Alternative penalty
  • Supplementary penalty (for example, in the case of violence which resulted in a total incapacity for work less than or equal to 8 days)

You can be sentenced to a TIG if the following 3 conditions are met:

Please note

If these 3 conditions are met, the TIG may also be pronounced as part of a probationary stay.

At the end of the hearing, the court that judges you may decide to set up a TIG.

If you are present at the hearing, the presiding judge (or children's judge) informs you that you can accept or refuse the TIG.

If your lawyer appears without you at the hearing, he or she can share your response with the president by giving him or her a signed letter.

Jurisdiction awaits your response to pronounce the TIG.

FYI  

If you are major, the TIG may exceptionally be decided by the sentencing judge (Jap) after the hearing. In this case, you must give your consent to the Jap.

If you refuse to perform the TIG and it is a alternative penalty, the court may carry out the penalty of imprisonment or fine initially fixed.

The IGT must be carried out within a time limit set by the court which decided on the penalty.

This period may not exceed 18 months.

The time limit may be temporarily suspended if you are unable to perform the TIG for any of the following reasons:

  • Serious medical, family, occupational or social reasons (e.g. illness, death, business travel)
  • You are under house arrest with electronic surveillance
  • You are placed in pre-trial detention
  • You are running a custodial sentence
  • You fulfill obligations related to the national service.

In the event of a suspension, the TIG will resume for the period that you had to complete before the deadline was suspended.

If you're of age, the director of Prison Service for Integration and Probation (SPIP), or if he so wishes, Jap, decides:

  • From the organization with which you will conduct the TIG
  • The work or works you will do
  • Working hours to which you will be subject.

If you are a minor, these working conditions are specified by the territorial director of the judicial protection of young people.

FYI  

These authorities also ensure that your working conditions are adapted to the rules applicable to any worker (night work, hygiene and safety rulesetc.).

In what structure can the TGI be performed?

You may be required to complete a TIG for one of the following organizations:

  • Territorial authority or public institution (e.g. prefecture, hospital, town hall)
  • Private body entrusted with a public service mission (e.g. public transport business or water and waste management company)
  • Association (e.g. Association for the Care of the Elderly)

FYI  

Private bodies and associations wishing to propose works of general interest must be abilities by the Director of SPIP: titleContent of the department in which they are located.

What types of works can be performed during a TIG?

The IGT may consist of one of the following works:

  • Educational works (e.g. first aid training)
  • Works to improve the environment (maintenance of green spaces or beaches, pruning, etc.)
  • Maintenance and handling works (painting, masonry, gardening, etc.)
  • Heritage renovation works (e.g. graffiti cleaning on public roads)
  • Help for disadvantaged people (reading for the blind, school support, sorting and distribution of clothing, etc.)
  • Contribution to training activities in several fields such as painting or music
  • Administrative tasks (archiving, desk research, etc.)
  • Reception work (e.g. switchboard).

The jurisdiction that determines the work to be done chooses a position adapted to your personal situation and favorable to your reintegration into the business.

If you are a minor, it must also take into account the formative nature of this professional activity.

How many hours of community service can be required of a person?

The duration of the TIG is chosen by the court that convicted you or by the sentencing judge.

This authority must respect the minimum and maximum periods set according to the offense committed.

Tableau - Duration of the IGT according to the offense committed

Duration

Contravention

Misdemeanor

Minimum duration

8 p.m.

8 p.m.

Maximum duration

120 hours

400 hours

FYI  

If you are employed, you must complete the TIG outside your working hours. Duration weekly total work (professional activity + TIG) may not exceed 47 hours.

In addition to the performance of community service, you are subject certain obligations.

The obligations applicable to adults are not the same as those applicable to minors:

Major

The obligations to be met in addition to the performance of a TIG are as follows:

  • Respond to the convocations of the Jap or the Prison Service for Integration and Probation (SPIP)) on which you depend
  • Receive visits from the SPIP and provide it with information or documents to justify that you meet your obligations
  • Notify the Prison Service of Insertion and Probation of your changes of employment
  • Notify the SPIP of your changes of residence
  • Notify the SPIP of any travel exceeding 15 days and report your return
  • Obtain prior authorization from the sentencing judge for any change of employment or residence, where such change may impede the fulfillment of your obligations
  • Inform the Jap: titleContent any travel abroad.

You must undergo a medical examination if you are in any of the following situations:

  • You have a disability
  • You're pregnant
  • You make a TIG with night schedules
  • Your position presents particular risks (example: exposure to asbestos)
  • You perform your TIG in a prevention or care organization (example: Ehpad).

The purpose of this medical examination is to ensure that you are fit for work and/or that you are immune to certain diseases.

For the duration of the TIG, you are followed by a prison counselor for integration and probation.

It shall inform the sentencing judge (Jap) in the event of an incident, if you perform your work incorrectly or if you do not comply with the obligations to which you are subject.

Minor

The obligations to be met in addition to the performance of a TIG are as follows:

  • Reply to the convocations of the children's judge and the educator or service designated by the judicial protection of young people
  • Undergo a medical examination before starting your work. The purpose of this examination is to confirm that you are fit to work.

Throughout the duration of the TIG, you are monitored by the director of the youth judicial protection service on which you depend.

It informs the children's judge in the event of an incident, if you perform your TIG incorrectly (for example: you do not perform the tasks requested of you) or if you do not comply with the obligations to which you are subject.

Please note

If he wishes, the children's judge can follow you in place of the director of the youth judicial protection service.

If no incident occurred during the performance of the TIG, you are released from your obligations.

However, if you have violated the obligations under the TIG, you will be subject to sanctions.

This may be the case in particular if you have not respected the rules of the organization for which you worked (schedules, respect for equipment, etc.) or the obligations set by the Jap: titleContent (example: respond to summonses).

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TIG accomplished without incident

The TIG ceases as soon as the work to which you have been assigned is fully completed.

If the TIG is completed on time, the person who employs you must provide you with a document attesting that you have done your job properly.

Please note

This proof shall also be sent to the CPIP: titleContent that follows you.

After the delivery of this document, your sentence is considered to have been executed and you are no longer subject to any obligation.

Occurrence of an incident

If the TIG was pronounced as main sentence or complementary, sanctions may be imposed.

These penalties differ from those applicable to the TIG pronounced as alternative penalty or as part of a probationary stay.

Primary or Supplementary Penalty

In the event of a breach of obligations related to a TIG, you will be liable to 2 years' imprisonment and €30,000 of fine.

Alternative penalty

The Jap: titleContent may decide to carry out all or part of the sentence imposed by the court (fine or imprisonment).

This penalty may not exceed the maximum of penalty incurred for theoffense committed, within the limit of 2 years' imprisonment and €30,000 of fine.

Example :

You have committed theft. The penalty is 3 years' imprisonment and €45,000 of fine. Nevertheless, the correctional court decided to submit you to a TIG.

If you fail to comply with the obligations under the TIG, the court cannot sentence you to 3 years' imprisonment and €45,000 of fine. It may only impose a sentence of not more than 2 years' imprisonment and €30,000 of fine.

TIG in the context of a probation stay

If the TIG was pronounced in the context of a probationary stay and that you have not accomplished it, the Jap: titleContent may decide to revoke the reprieve.

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