Proceedings before the Children's Court (TPE)

Verified 31 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

It exists 2 types of procedure in the juvenile court. Usually, the minor is tried in 2 different hearings between which a period of educational testing. We're talking about a testing procedure. Exceptionally, the minor is tried in a single audience. We present you the information to know.

Educational testing

The juvenile court has jurisdiction to try the following offenses:

  • The tickets of 5th class and the offenses committed by minors aged over 13 years of age
  • The crimes committed by minors of under 16
  • The contraventions of the first 4 classes committed by the minor, when they are related to one of the infringements previously cited.

In the context of a probation procedure, the juvenile's judgment is made in 2 steps. Between the 2 hearings, the minor is subjected to a period of educational testing.

FYI  

Hearings before the Children's Court always take place in front of a small audience. However, the minor must be accompanied by the adult who is responsible for it and be assisted by a lawyer.

What is the culpability review hearing before the VET?

The examination hearing on guilt is the first phase of the juvenile's trial.

At that hearing, the TPE ruled on the guilt the minor and possibly on the damages which must be paid to the victim.

Before making its decision, the juvenile court shall hear the following persons:

  • The minor whose presence is indispensable
  • Witnesses of the offense (if any)
  • The legal representatives of the minor, the person who is civilly responsible of the minor or the service to which the minor is entrusted
  • The victim (who may have formed civil party)
  • The public prosecutor
  • The minor's lawyer.

Please note

If it so wishes, the VPT may also question the minor's co-authors or accomplices. However, each minor is tried in different hearings.

At the end of the hearing, the VPT may declare the minor guilty or not guilty.

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Minor found not guilty

Where the juvenile court considers that the minor is not guilty of the offense charged against him, it shall pronounce a relaxed. Thus, the minor cannot be subject to a criminal sanction.

Minor found guilty

When the VET finds the minor guilty of the offense charged with him, it orders a period of educational testing. It also sets out the measures to be taken by the minor during this period.

FYI  

The measures to be put in place during the educational testing period shall be communicated orally to the minor.

The judgment is served to the minor (possibly through his lawyer). That decision shall specify the date of the hearing on the imposition of the penalty.

What happens between the 2 hearings before the juvenile court?

Between the 2 hearings before the VET, an educational probation period takes place for an inclusive period of time between 6 and 9 months.

During this period, the minor found guilty may be subject to one of the following measures:

  • Medical or psychological expertise
  • Judicial measure of educational investigation
  • Interim judicial educational measure
  • Under certain conditions, safety measure (judicial review, house arrest under electronic bracelet, etc.).

During this period, the juvenile judge follows the minor. It may terminate it ex officio, at the request of the minor, his lawyer or the public prosecutor.

What is the hearing on sentencing before the VET?

Hearing on the imposition of the penalty is the time when the court decides on the punishment applicable to a minor convicted of an offense.

FYI  

If the issue of compensation to the victim was not decided at the hearing on the examination of guilt, the TPE decides on this point. It may ask the legal representatives of the minor or the person to whom he was entrusted at the time of the facts to pay damages to the victim.

Before making its decision on the applicable penalty and the compensation to be paid, the VSE hears the following persons:

  • Minor (unless absent from the hearing as it is in his interest not to participate)
  • Witnesses to the offense
  • Legal representatives of the minor, the person or service to which he is entrusted
  • Victim who may have become a civil party
  • Prosecutor of the Republic
  • Lawyer for the minor.

At the end of the hearing, the TPE may impose a penalty on the minor. Nevertheless, whether the minor has given satisfaction during its educational test, the TPE may order a waiver educational measure, a sentence waiver or a declaration of educational achievement.

The judgment is served to the minor (possibly through his lawyer).

The Juvenile Court may pronounce any measures and penalties applicable to minors. The sanction is chosen based on the offense committed and the situation of the minor.

Decisions on guilt or punishment

The decisions of the TPE may be challenged before the special juvenile division of the Court of Appeal.

The challenge is made by declaration of appeal transmitted to registry of the juvenile court, within 10 days following the delivery of the judgment or meaning.

Who shall I contact

FYI  

If the minor is detained, the statement of appeal must be given to the head supervisor of the institution in which he is being held.

The Special Juvenile Chamber may confirm or annul the decisions of the VPT.

Please note

When confirming the decisions of the VET and the appeal was made by the minor, legal representatives, the civil party or their insurers, the special chamber for minors cannot impose a harsher sentence than that decided by the TPE.

If it annuls the decision on guilt, the minor is relaxed. When it annuls the decision on the imposition of the penalty, the case is referred back to a VSE composed of other judges.

Safety Measure

The security measures pronounced by the TPE (during the hearing on the examination of guilt) or by the juvenile judge (during the period of educational probation) may be challenged before the special juvenile chamber.

The challenge is made by declaration of appeal transmitted to registry of the juvenile court, within 10 days following the delivery of the judgment or meaning.

Who shall I contact

Single Audience

The single hearing may be decided by the public prosecutor or by a juvenile court (juvenile judge or juvenile court).

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Prosecutor of the Republic

The conditions under which the public prosecutor may decide on a single hearing differ according to the age of the minor:

Under 16 years of age

The public prosecutor may decide on a single hearing where the minor has committed a infringement for which he incurs a imprisonment of 5 years or more.

In addition, one of the following 2 conditions must be met:

  • The minor has an educational background (e.g. educational measure or safety measure) and it has been the subject of an educational report
  • Or the minor is prosecuted for refusing a fingerprint.
Minor 16 years of age or older

The public prosecutor may decide on a single hearing where the minor has committed an offense for which he is liable to a Sentence of 3 years or more.

In addition, one of the following 2 conditions must be met:

  • The minor has an educational background (e.g. educational measure or safety measure) and it has been the subject of an educational report
  • Or the minor is prosecuted for refusing a fingerprint.

Jurisdiction for minors

When examining the minor's guilt (in the context of an educational probation), the TPE may also decide on the penalty applicable to him.

This decision may be taken if the 2 the following conditions are met:

  • The TPE considers that it is sufficiently informed about the personality of the minor (for example, it has several reports of the judicial protection of young people)
  • The TPE considers that it is not necessary to put in place a period of educational testing because of the offense committed and the situation of the minor. This is the case, for example, if the minor has committed a minor offense and his or her personality does not require sustained support from the juvenile justice system.

If the VET decides to try the minor at a single hearing, he must inform him of this. The minor must accept that its judgment be given at the single hearing.

FYI  

At the end of an investigation, a minor suspected of having offense or a 5th class ticket must be judged at a single hearing.

At the single hearing, the Juvenile Court shall hear the following persons:

  • The minor whose presence is indispensable
  • Witnesses of the offense (if any)
  • The legal representatives of the minor, the person who is civilly responsible of the minor or the service to which the minor is entrusted
  • The victim (who may have formed civil party)
  • The public prosecutor
  • The minor's lawyer.

FYI  

Hearings before the VET always take place in front of an audience restricted. However, the minor must be accompanied by the adult who is responsible for it and be assisted by a lawyer.

After hearing all the parties, the juvenile court decides on the minor's guilt and the sanctions to be applied to it.

It may also grant damages to the victim who constituted himself civil party.

The decision of the TPE is orally notified to the minor. However, if he was absent from the hearing or if the VET does not immediately render his judgment, the decision is served (possibly through his lawyer).

The sanctions that may be decided depend on the authority at the initiative of the single hearing:

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Prosecutor of the Republic

The Juvenile Court may pronounce any measures and penalties applicable to minors.

Sanctions are chosen based on the offense committed and the personality of the minor.

Juvenile Court

The Juvenile Court may order a judicial warning or a judicial educational measure against the minor.

He can inflict a sentence only if the minor has already been the subject of an educational measure, judicial measure of educational investigation, of a safety measurea conviction or a sentence imposed in another proceeding and resulting in a report dated less than 1 year.

The decisions of the TPE may be challenged before the special juvenile division of the Court of Appeal.

The challenge is made by declaration of appeal transmitted to registry of the juvenile court, within 10 days following the delivery of the judgment or meaning.

Who shall I contact

FYI  

If the minor is detained, the statement of appeal must be given to the head supervisor of the institution in which he is being held.

The Special Juvenile Chamber may confirm or annul the decisions of the VPT.

Please note

When confirming the decisions of the VET and the appeal was made by the minor, legal representatives, the civil party or their insurers, the special chamber for minors cannot impose a harsher sentence than that decided by the TPE.

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