Criminal proceedings before the juvenile judge

Verified 12 December 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

A minor suspected of a infringement is most often tried by the juvenile judge, in council chamber. In criminal matters, there is 2 types of procedure before the children's judge. In principle, the minor is tried at two different hearings, between which a period of educational testing. We're talking about a educational testing procedure. Exceptionally, the minor is tried in a single audience. We present you the information to know.

Educational testing

In the context of an educational probation procedure, the hearings take place before the juvenile judge, whatever the case may be the offense committed by the minor.

Nevertheless, where the minor is over 13 years of age, whether his personality, the gravity or the complexity of the acts he committed justify it, the case may be referred to the juvenile court.

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  

During the 2 hearings, the juvenile judge shall rule on the council chamber.

What is the Guilt Review Hearing before the Juvenile Judge?

The Guilt Review Hearing is 1era phase of trial of the minor.

At this hearing, the juvenile court (juvenile judge or judge) decides on the minor's guilt and possibly on the damages and interest which must be paid to the victim.

Before taking its decision, the court shall hear the following persons:

  • The minor whose presence is mandatory (unless it is not in his interest)
  • 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 court may also question the minor's co-authors or major accomplices.

At the end of the hearing, the court may find the minor guilty or not guilty:

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Minor found not guilty

Where the court considers that the minor is not guilty of the offense which was reproached to her, she pronounces a relaxed. Thus, the minor cannot be subject to a criminal sanction.

Minor found guilty

Where the court finds the minor guilty of the offense who is accused, he orders a period of educational testing. It also sets out the measures to be taken by the minor during this period.

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.

FYI  

The measures to be put in place during the probation period are communicated orally to the minor at the end of the hearing.

What happens between the 2 hearings before the juvenile judge?

Between the 2 hearings, an educational testing period begins 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, pre-trial detention, 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 sentencing hearing before the juvenile judge?

Hearing on the imposition of the penalty is the time when the juvenile court decides on the penalty applicable to the offender.

FYI  

If the question of compensation for the victim was not decided at the hearing on the examination of guilt, the court shall rule on that point. She can ask the legal representatives the minor or the person to whom he or she was entrusted at the time of the offense, to pay damages to the victim.

Before taking its decision on the applicable penalty and the compensation to be paid, the court shall hear all the parties and witnesses to the offense.

At the end of the hearing, the court may impose a penalty on the minor. Nevertheless, if the minor has given satisfaction during his educational probation, it has the possibility to order an exemption from educational measure, an exemption from punishment or a declaration of educational achievement.

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

When trying a minor in council chamber, the children's judge may order educational measures and, under certain conditions, penalties.

FYI  

Some educational measures may be added to the sentences imposed on the minor (e.g. judicial educational measure may be combined with community service).

What educational measures could be taken by the juvenile judge?

The juvenile judge may order the following educational measures:

If the minor is reinserted into the business, the damage caused to the victim is repaired and that the disorder caused by the offense has ceased, the children's judge may grant an exemption from educational measures.

In addition, where the minor has complied with the obligations during the period of probation, the judge shall declaration of educational achievement.

What penalties can be imposed by the juvenile judge?

The penalties that may be imposed by the juvenile judge are as follows:

  • Confiscation of the object used to commit the offense
  • Sentence of internship (for example, a drug awareness internship). This sentence may not last more than 6 months. The daily duration of the internship must be less than 6 hours.
  • Community service work, if the minor is at least 16 years of age at the time of judgment.

However, such penalties may be imposed only if the 3 the following conditions are met:

  • The minor is at least 13 years of age
  • The circumstances of the offense and the personality of the minor justify the imposition of a sentence
  • The public prosecutor a required a penalty against the minor.

It is always possible to challenge the decisions of the juvenile judge.

The means of challenge differ depending on the judge's decision:

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Decisions on guilt and/or punishment

Juvenile court decisions (Juvenile Judge, ) may be challenged before the Special Juvenile Chamber of the Court of Appeal.

The appeal shall be made by declaration of appeal transmitted to registry of the court which delivered the contested decision. The minor (or his legal representatives) has a 10 days following the delivery of the judgment or meaning, to appeal.

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 set aside decisions of the juvenile court.

Please note

When confirming a conviction and the appeal was made by the minor, his legal representatives, the civil party or their insurers, the special chamber for minors cannot impose a more severe sentence than that imposed by the court of first instance.

Safety measure

The security measures pronounced by the children's judge may be challenged before the special chamber for minors.

The challenge is made by declaration of appeal forwarded to the registry of the court which issued the security measure. The minor (or his legal representatives) has a time limit of 10 days following the delivery of the judgment or meaning to appeal.

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 latter will transmit it to the registry of the juvenile judge.

Single Audience

When examining the minor's guilt (in the context of an educational probation procedure), the juvenile court (children's judge, VSE) may also decide directly on the penalty applicable to him.

This decision may be taken if the 3 the following conditions are met:

  • The court has previously heard the parties and their lawyers
  • It considers that it is sufficiently informed about the minor's personality (for example, it has several reports on the judicial protection of young people)
  • The court considers that it is not necessary to set up a period of educational testing due to 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.

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 judge shall hear the following persons:

  • The minor
  • 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.

After hearing all the parties, the juvenile judge shall rule on the minor's guilt and on the sanctions to be applied to it.

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

The decision of the juvenile judge is orally notified to the minor. However, if he was absent from the hearing or if the court does not immediately deliver its judgment, the decision shall be served (possibly through his lawyer).

The juvenile court judge may order an educational measure against the minor.

In addition, the judge may impose a sentence if he has already been the subject of an educational measure, a judicial measure of educational investigation, of a safety measurea conviction or sentence handed down in another procedure and resulting in an educational report dating back less than one year.

FYI  

Some educational measures may be added to the sentences imposed on the minor (e.g. judicial educational measure may be combined with community service).

What educational measures can be set by the juvenile judge?

The juvenile court (children's judge or VSE) may pronounce a judicial warning or a judicial educational measure against the minor.

If the minor is reinserted into the business, the damage caused to the victim is repaired and the disturbance caused by the offense has ceased, he may grant an exemption from educational measures.

What sentences could be handed down by the juvenile judge?

The penalties that may be imposed by the juvenile judge are as follows:

  • Confiscation of the object used to commit the offense
  • Sentence of internship (for example, a drug awareness internship). This sentence may not last more than 6 months. The daily duration of the internship must be less than 6 hours.
  • Community service work, if the minor is at least 16 years of age at the time of judgment.

Juvenile court decisions (Juvenile Judge, ) may be challenged before the Special Juvenile Chamber of the Court of Appeal.

The appeal shall be made by declaration of appeal transmitted to registry of the court which delivered the contested decision. The minor (or his legal representatives) has a 10 days following the delivery of the judgment or meaning, to appeal.

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 set aside decisions of the juvenile court.

Please note

When confirming a conviction and the appeal has been made by the minor, legal representatives, the civil party or their insurers, the special chamber for minors cannot impose a more severe sentence than that imposed by the court of first instance.

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