Reductions in penalties

Verified 19 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

You were sentenced to a custodial sentence for committing a offense ? Regardless of when your conviction became definitive, you can benefit from reduced sentences. Thus, the length of the sentence that you will actually serve will be reduced compared to that handed down by the criminal judge. We present you the information to know.

The mechanism of sentence reductions you can benefit from depends on the date you were jailed : after 1er January 2023 or before 1er January 2023. Regardless of the date of imprisonment, you may not be granted any reduction of sentence if you have been sentenced to imprisonment for a term of life span.

Date of locking:

Since 1 January 2023

A reduced sentence may be granted if you are definitely sentenced to a custodial sentence that you perform in France.

In addition, it is necessary that you show good behavior during your deprivation of liberty. Your good behavior can result in:

  • Respect for the rules and regulations of the prison in which you are incarcerated
  • Maintaining respectful relations with prison staff and other detainees
  • Compliance with schedules in the event of placement outside, of semi-liberty or house arrest under electronic surveillance
  • Your presence at the appointments set by the sentencing judge.

You must also have made serious reintegration efforts. These efforts may include:

  • The follow-up of a school, university or vocational training
  • Learning to read, write and calculate in prison
  • Participation in cultural and sporting activities planned by the prison
  • The signing of an employment contract
  • Follow-up therapy to avoid the risk of recurrence
  • Investment in a program proposed by the prison insertion and probation service
  • Compensation of the victim the offense for which you were convicted.

You (or your lawyer) have the option to apply for a reduced sentence by filing a query at the Registry of sentencing judge.

Your application must be accompanied by all the elements allowing to demonstrate that you have behaved well during your deprivation of liberty and that you have made serious efforts to reintegrate. These may include:

  • Report of the prison insertion and probation service from the penitentiary institution on which you depend
  • Employment contract
  • Proof of completion of school, university or vocational training
  • Diploma obtained in prison
  • Medical certificate proving that you are undergoing therapy
  • Proof of compensation of the victim.

Your application must also include your signature and/or that of your lawyer.

It must be transmitted to the Jap: titleContent competent for the place in which you perform your custodial sentence . It can be delivered by hand or sent by letter RAR: titleContent.

FYI  

If you are incarcerated, you can also give a statement to the head of the penitentiary in which you are located. In this case, your request will be immediately forwarded to Jap: titleContent.

If these rules are followed, the Jap shall examine your situation and seek the opinion of the commission on the enforcement of penalties. Then he makes a reasoned decision.

If you are not satisfied with this decision, you can challenge it before the chamber for the enforcement of sentences. You have a period of 24 hours from the notification of the decision.

Before the Chamber of Sentencing, you must be assisted by a lawyer. If you don't have the resources to hire a lawyer, you may be able to apply for legal aid.

Who shall I contact

FYI  

Once a year, the sentencing judge must rule on the possibility of granting you a reduced sentence even if you have not applied. To make his decision, he checks your good behavior and the efforts made to reintegrate. If you are not satisfied with this decision, you can challenge it before the chamber for the enforcement of sentences within 24 hours following the notification of the decision.

The amount of the sentence reduction is determined according to the duration of the sentence. custodial sentence to which you have been sentenced or which you have yet to accomplish: if you have been sentenced to a custodial sentence of more than 1 year and you have more than 1 year to complete, the amount of sentence reductions shall be counted in months. Other rules apply if you have been sentenced to a sentence less than 1 year or less than 1 year to complete.

If you serve multiple sentences at the same time, you are subject to the penalty reduction system applicable to the penalty incurred the longest.

If you were in pre-trial detention before your judgment, the length of time you were inmate shall be taken into account in calculating the amount of the penalty credit.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Custodial sentence of less than 1 year

The length of the sentence reduction also varies according to the nature of the the offense that you have committed:

General scenario

The maximum length of the sentence reduction that may be granted to you by Jap: titleContent is of 14 days per month of incarceration.

Crime or misdemeanor against a person holding public authority

In this case, the amount of the reduced sentences differs depending on the offense committed on the person depositary of public authority :

Murder or torture

The maximum length of the sentence reduction that may be granted to you by Jap: titleContent is of 7 days per month of incarceration.

Violence

The maximum length of the sentence reduction that may be granted to you by Jap: titleContent is of 9 days per month of incarceration.

Offenses for which socio-judicial follow-up is incurred

If you have been convicted of committing an offense offense for which a socio-judicial monitoring is incurred (example: rape or sexual assault) and that you do not follow the proposed treatment, the maximum duration of the reduction of sentence that can be granted to you is 7 days per month of incarceration.

Please note

These rules apply to persons who were in pre-trial detention before 31 December 2022 and who were convicted after 1er January 2023.

Organized crime offense

If you have been sentenced to a custodial sentence of at least 5 years for having committed an offense related to organized crime and if you are serving your last year of incarceration, the maximum length of the sentence reduction that may be granted to you is 7 days per month of incarceration.

Offense of terrorism

The maximum length of the sentence reduction that may be granted to you by Jap: titleContent is of 7 days per month of incarceration.

Please note

These rules shall not apply in the case of incitement to terrorism or apology for terrorism.

Custodial sentence of more than 1 year

The length of the sentence reduction also varies according to the nature of the the offense that you have committed:

General scenario

The maximum length of the sentence reduction that may be granted to you by Jap: titleContent is of 6 months per year of imprisonment.

Crime or misdemeanor committed against a person holding public authority

In this case, the amount of the reduced sentences differs depending on the offense committed on the person depositary of public authority :

Murder or torture

The maximum length of the sentence reduction that may be granted to you by Jap: titleContent is of 3 months per year of imprisonment.

Violence

The maximum length of the sentence reduction that may be granted to you by Jap: titleContent is of 4 months per year of imprisonment.

Offenses for which socio-judicial follow-up is incurred

If you have been convicted of an offense for which a socio-judicial monitoring is incurred (example: rape or sexual assault) and that you do not follow the proposed treatment, the maximum duration of the reduction of sentence that can be granted to you is 3 months per year of imprisonment.

Organized crime offense

If you have been sentenced to a custodial sentence of at least 5 years for having committed an offense related to organized crime, the maximum length of the reduction in sentence that may be granted to you shall be 3 months per year of imprisonment.

Offense of terrorism

The maximum length of the sentence reduction that may be granted to you by Jap: titleContent is of 3 months per year of imprisonment.

Please note

These rules shall not apply in the case of incitement to terrorism or apology for terrorism.

After your release, you may be subject to obligations fixed by sentencing judge.

For example, the Jap: titleContent may compel you to:

  • Reply to the convocations of the prison insertion and probation service
  • Notify him of your job changes
  • Notify him in case of change of domicile
  • Notify him if you go on holiday for more than 15 days
  • Refrain from driving certain vehicles
  • Refrain from going to certain places (for example, a drink shop)
  • Refrain from associating with certain people (for example, accomplice from the offense that you committed).

The Jap sets the time during which you must comply with these obligations. This time may not exceed the duration of the sentence reduction granted.

For example, if you receive a 5-month sentence reduction, you must comply with the obligations set by the Jap for a maximum period of 5 months.

The reduction of sentence granted to you can be withdrawn in 2 situations:

  • In the year following the time it was granted to you, you are misbehaving (for example, news commission) infringements, refusal to subject you to direct debits to establish your genetic fingerprinting, non-compliance with your sentencing arrangementdisciplinary action in the case of the introduction of dangerous objects or drugs into the penitentiary)
  • After your release, you do not comply with the obligations and prohibitions set by the sentencing judge.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Misconduct

In the year following the year in which you were granted the discount, your behavior is monitored.

In the event of misconduct, the head of the penitentiary, the public prosecutor or the Jap may consider withdrawing your sentence reduction.

If such a withdrawal is contemplated, you are notified (or your lawyer is informed) at least 10 days before the date your situation was reviewed.

During this period, you (or your lawyer) may make written submissions to defend yourself.

You may submit these comments to the Jap: titleContent by means of a form sent to you by the head of the penitentiary institution on which you depend.

The Jap can also summon you to hear you.

The decision to withdraw shall be taken by the judge responsible for the enforcement of penalties, after commission on the enforcement of penalties.

He can withdraw all or part of the sentence reduction granted to you.

This decision can be appealed within 24 hours following the notification of the order.

It's there chamber for the enforcement of sentences who will review your appeal.

Before the Chamber of Sentencing, you must be assisted by a lawyer.

Who shall I contact

If you do not have sufficient financial resources to hire such a professional, you can apply for legal aid.

Non-compliance with Jap obligations

If you fail to comply with your obligations and prohibitions after your release, the Jap: titleContent may decide to withdraw all or part of the sentence reductions granted to you. So you can be incarcerated again.

To make its decision, the Jap hears your comments (or those of your lawyer) and those of the public prosecutor during a adversarial debate.

At the end of this debate, the sentencing judge issues a prescription which shall specify the reasons for the withdrawal.

This decision can be appealed within 24 hours following the notification of the order.

It's there chamber for the enforcement of sentences who will review your appeal.

Before the Chamber of Sentencing, you must be assisted by a lawyer.

Who shall I contact

If you do not have sufficient financial resources to hire such a professional, you can apply for legal aid.

Forward

If you have been jailed before 2023, you can benefit from 2 types of sentence reductions that combine:

  • The penalty credit granted as soon as the conviction has become definitive
  • Additional sentence reductions that may be granted during the custodial sentence.

The reduced penalty credit automatically the time you are deprived of your liberty.

You don't have to apply for it. The penalty credit shall be granted, unconditionallyon the day the conviction becomes definitive.

As soon as you enter prison, you are informed of the expected date of your release.

Who can benefit from a penalty credit?

In principle, if you have been convicted before 1er January 2023, you get a penalty credit of any kind the offense that you committed.

However, this type of sentence reduction does not apply to the authors

  • Acts of terrorism
  • Murder, torture or torture violence committed against a person depositary of public authority.

How long is a sentence credit?

The penalty credit is determined according to the duration of the sentence. custodial sentence to which you have been sentenced:

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Custodial sentence of less than 1 year

The benefit of a penalty credit allows you to see your custodial sentence reduced by 7 days per month of incarceration.

Example :

You're sentenced to six months in prison. In this case, you receive a penalty credit equal to 42 days. You have 4 months and 18 days to complete.

Custodial sentence of more than 1 year

By benefiting from a penalty credit, your custodial sentence is reduced:

  • 3 months for the first year of incarceration
  • 2 months per year of incarceration for subsequent years
  • 7 days per month for the remaining time (up to 2 months for sentences over 1 year).

Example :

You are sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison. The 1re year, you benefit from 3 months of credit. The 2e and the 3e year, you benefit from 4 months (2 + 2). For the remaining 9 months, you normally have 7 days per month, or 63 days. However, as long as you have been sentenced to more than 1 year, you cannot benefit from a 63-day reduction but a maximum of 2 months. The penalty credit being 9 months (3 + 4 + 2), you have 3 years to complete.

If you were in pre-trial detention before your judgment, the length of time you were inmate shall be taken into account in calculating the amount of the penalty credit.

Example :

The court sentenced you to two years of imprisonment and you have already served 1 year of pre-trial detention. In this case, you receive a 3-month sentence credit for the year of pre-trial detention and 2 months for the period of imprisonment. So, after conviction definitive, you have only 7 months in prison to complete.

Can the penalty credit be withdrawn?

The rules governing the withdrawal of a penalty credit depend on the reason why the withdrawal is envisaged:

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Misconduct or denial of care

In case of misconduct, the sentencing judge (Jap) may withdraw all or part of the penalty credit granted to you.

Misconduct can result in:

  • Failure to comply with the rules of the prison
  • Failure to comply with certain obligations ordered in connection with a semi-liberty, of a placement outside or a house arrest under electronic surveillance
  • Aggressive behavior towards prison staff or towards other prisoners
  • The commission of a new offense during incarceration or after your release.

This withdrawal can also take place if you have been convicted of committing a crime. offense incurring a socio-judicial monitoring (example: sexual assault) but that you are not taking the proposed treatment.

FYI  

If you serve your sentence in prison, the Jap cannot withdraw you more than 3 months a year and 7 days a month.

If the Jap is considering withdrawing your sentence credit, it must inform you and give you the opportunity to comment before it makes a decision.

The Jap makes a prescription after consulting the commission on the enforcement of penalties.

You can challenge this decision before the chamber for the enforcement of sentences the judge who made the impugned decision depends on. You have a period of 24 hours from the notification of the order.

Who shall I contact

Before the Chamber of Sentencing, you must be assisted by a lawyer.

Who shall I contact

Refusal to submit to a direct debit

If you refuse to submit to direct debits to establish your genetic fingerprinting, the Jap: titleContent necessarily takes you away your penalty credit.

However, after studying your situation, he may decide that this withdrawal will be only partial.

You can challenge this decision before the chamber for the enforcement of sentences the judge who made the impugned decision depends on. You have a period of 24 hours from the notification of the order.

Who shall I contact

Before the Chamber of Sentencing, you must be assisted by a lawyer.

Who shall I contact

The additional sentence reductions reduce the length of the sentence. custodial sentence. They may be granted during detention.

Who can benefit from additional sentence reductions?

In principle, this type of sentence reduction can be granted to anyone who shows signs of social rehabilitation efforts during its custodial sentence.

One social rehabilitation effort may be manifested by:

  • Obtaining a school, university or professional exam
  • Learning to read, write and count
  • Participation in cultural activities planned by the prison
  • Follow-up therapy to avoid the risk of recurrence
  • Compensation for victims.

Warning  

Except in exceptional cases, if you have been convicted of committing an offense offense incurring a socio-judicial monitoring (example: rape) and that you do not follow the proposed treatment, you can not benefit from additional reductions of sentence.

What is the procedure for obtaining additional sentence reductions?

Once a year, the sentencing judge (Jap) must decide on the possibility of granting you further reductions in your sentence. It can do this automatically or on your request.

Please note

If you have been in pre-trial detention for more than a year, the Jap must review your situation within 2 months from the time your conviction became definitive.

If you make a request, it must take the form of a query submitted to the registry:

  • From the sentencing judge in your place of deprivation of liberty
  • Or from the prison in which you are located, if you serve your sentence in prison.

It must be sent by letter RAR: titleContent or by hand.

Warning  

Your application must be accompanied by any documentation proving your social rehabilitation efforts. It must be signed by you or your lawyer.

The Jap: titleContent shall give its decision within 2 months of the time when it is referred to it.

Sound prescription may be given only after the opinion of the commission on the enforcement of penalties.

If you are not satisfied with this decision, you can challenge it before the chamber for the enforcement of sentences.

You have a period of 24 hours from the notification of the decision.

Before the Chamber of Sentencing, you must be assisted by a lawyer.

Who shall I contact

How long can additional sentence reductions be?

The Jap: titleContent freely chooses the length of the additional sentence reductions it grants you up to:

  • 3 months per year of imprisonment
  • 7 days a month when the remaining period of incarceration is less than one year.

FYI  

If you have been convicted of an offense involving socio-judicial monitoring and that you do not follow the treatments offered, the Jap can exceptionally grant you additional sentence reductions up to:

  • 2 months per year of imprisonment
  • 4 days per month when the remaining period of incarceration is less than one year.

Can additional sentence reductions be withdrawn?

If you fail to comply with your obligations and prohibitions after your release, the Jap: titleContent may decide to withdraw all or part of the sentence reductions granted to you. So you can be incarcerated again.

To make its decision, the Jap hears your comments (or those of your lawyer) and those of the public prosecutor during a adversarial debate.

Please note

Before the Jap, the assistance of a lawyer is not mandatory, but remains advisable.

If you do not have sufficient financial resources to hire such a professional, you may apply for legal aid.

At the end of this debate, the sentencing judge issues a prescription which shall specify the reasons for the withdrawal.

This decision can be appealed within 24 hours following the notification of the order.

It's there chamber for the enforcement of sentences who will review your appeal.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

FAQ