How to rectify an error in a criminal justice decision?
Verified 21 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
If you notice an error in a criminal decision, you can ask for it to be corrected. You have to go to the court that made the decision. We explain how to proceed.
The error must be purely material. It must result from a omission, a clumsiness of expression or drafting, that is to say an unintentional act of the judge.
Only theerror oromission mentioned in a decision of a court or tribunal can be rectified.
Example :
- Error on party name
- Contradiction between device and the grounds of the decision
- Difference between the sentence pronounced indicated in numbers and the one mentioned in letters
- Forgot some information necessary for the execution of the sentence (e.g. prohibition to appear in a city for 5 years)
To request the correction of a decision rendered by a court of justice, one police court, a court of appeal or the court of cassation, you must enter the jurisdiction that made it.
For a rectification of a judgment of the criminal court or the court of assizes, you must address your query to the investigation chamber of the court of appeal.
For detained persons, the court having territorial jurisdiction may also be the place of detention.
Who can bring the case before the court?
You can request correction of a hardware error if you are a party (defendant, accused, civil party) in the decision to be corrected.
The public prosecutor may also be the source of the request for rectification.
FYI
Any person physical or moral mentioned and concerned by the execution of the decision may request its rectification. For example, the Customs Service may request the correction of the incorrect amount of the fine to be paid by the convicted person in the case of cigarette trafficking.
How to seize the court?
You can apply to the court by means of a query. You must attach all the elements establishing the error contained in the decision.
The court shall hold a hearing in council chamber.
The public prosecutor shall be heard, together with you and your lawyer, if you ask.
If you are inmate and that you wish to be heard at the hearing, you must make the request in your request for rectification.
The decision can be made without hearing by amending order of the president of the court if all parties agree.
FYI
The detainee may be interviewed by the president or a magistrate of the court closest to his place of detention. He may also be heard by videoconference from his place of detention.
A new decision correcting the error is issued and is appended to the original decision.
The amending decision shall be brought to your attention by meaning at the request of public prosecutor.
You can do call or form a appeal on a point of law.
The meaning of the decision sets in motion the time limits for the exercise of a remedy.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Please note: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their progress.
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