Criminal courts

The police court

The police court judge them tickets (for example, driving with a suspended license, tags on the public highway).

Ministry of Justice

The Criminal Court

The Criminal Court judge them offenses committed by adults.

The correctional court may impose a sentence of imprisonmentimprisonment (or a alternative sentence to prison). It may also impose a fine on the accused. In addition to these sanctions, the accused is liable to additional penalties.

Ministry of Justice

Criminal jurisdictions

The Assize Court and the criminal court shall be competent to judge crimes.

Depending on the gravity of the offense, the case will be tried by either of these courts:

• The court of assizes is competent to try persons accused of an offense crime punishable by more than 20 years from criminal imprisonment (e.g. murder or torture) or clerk in legal recidivism.
• The criminal court shall be competent to judge adults accused of crimes punishable by 15 to 20 years of confinement which have not been committed as a lawful recidivism (for example, a person commits rape when he or she has never committed any other such offense).

In front of the Assize Court, 6 jurors (or 9 on appeal) participate in the decision on the conviction of the accused. They perform this function alongside 3 professional magistrates (1 president and 2 assessors).

Before the criminal court, the case is judged by 5 professional judges (1 president and 4 assessors).

Ministry of Justice

Jurisdictions for minors

A minor is tried by specific courts, except when he commits a contravention of the first 4 classes. In this case, the police court has jurisdiction.

If he commits a offense more serious, the minor will be tried by the juvenile judge, the juvenile court or the court of assizes for minors.

Ministry of Justice