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Criminal penalties in France

Checked in October 2026 against the Code pénal and Code de la route (Légifrance, in force on 26 August 2026).

These are statutory ranges for a first offence, from the least to the most the law allows. A court decides the actual sentence in each case. We read the code in its original language and give the offences in plain English, with the legal term where it helps. For anything that matters, rely on the code itself. Not legal advice.

How France sets penalties

  • French law ranks offences as crimes, délits and contraventions (art. 111-1). Crimes are tried by a criminal court with a jury or judges and are punished by 'réclusion criminelle': for life, or for a stated maximum of 30, 20 or 15 years (art. 131-1).
  • The code usually states only the maximum. A term of réclusion is at least 10 years (art. 131-1), but the court may go below the maximum and even replace it with a prison term: not less than one year for a crime punished by a fixed term, and not less than two years for one punished by life (art. 132-18). That is why this guide shows no minimum for most crimes.
  • A délit is punished by imprisonment and a fine. The court may impose less than the maximum, but a prison term without suspension may not be one month or less (art. 132-19).
  • For serious crimes the code adds a safety period (art. 132-23) during which the person cannot be released early: half the sentence, or 18 years for a life sentence. The court can lengthen it.
  • Fines are in euros and are set by the code at the amounts shown. Where an offence changes with the victim (a child under 15, a police officer, a vulnerable person), the table shows the main form and the page for the article lists the rest.

Death penalty: No. France abolished the death penalty in 1981, and its Constitution (Article 66-1) now says that no one may be sentenced to death.

Read the France legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →

First-degree murder

Life imprisonment (premeditated murder is called 'assassinat')

  • Meurtre aggravé (murder of a child under 15, a parent, a vulnerable person, a police officer or magistrate, and other listed victims) (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    Life imprisonment (réclusion criminelle à perpétuité)

    Code pénal, art. 221-4

  • Meurtre accompanying or following another crime, or committed to prepare a délit or to escape justice (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    Life imprisonment (réclusion criminelle à perpétuité)

    A safety period applies automatically (art. 132-23): no early release for 18 years, which the court can raise to 22 and, in listed cases, to 30 years or to no early release at all.

    Code pénal, art. 221-2

  • Assassinat (murder with premeditation or by ambush) (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    Life imprisonment (réclusion criminelle à perpétuité)

    A safety period applies automatically (art. 132-23): no early release for 18 years, which the court can raise to 22 and, in listed cases, to 30 years or to no early release at all. Where the victim is a child under 15 and the murder is preceded by rape or torture, or the victim is a magistrate, police officer or similar, the court may by special decision raise the safety period to 30 years, or order no early release at all.

    Code pénal, art. 221-3

France has no 'degrees' of murder as the US has. A killing planned in advance, or by ambush, is 'assassinat'. The offences below are the closest to first-degree murder.

Second-degree murder

Up to 30 years' criminal imprisonment (the court may impose less)

  • Meurtre (intentional killing) (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    30 years' criminal imprisonment (réclusion criminelle)

    Code pénal, art. 221-1

Meurtre, a killing on purpose without premeditation, is the closest to second-degree murder. The court may go below the maximum (art. 132-18).

Voluntary manslaughter

Up to 3 years (killing by negligence) up to 15 or 20 years (violence causing death without intent to kill)

  • Homicide involontaire (killing by negligence) (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    3 years' imprisonment (5 years where a safety rule was deliberately and manifestly violated)
    Fine
    Fine of up to €45,000 (€75,000 for the deliberate violation)

    Code pénal, art. 221-6

  • Violences ayant entraîné la mort sans intention de la donner (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    15 years' criminal imprisonment

    Code pénal, art. 222-7

  • The same, against a child under 15, a vulnerable person, a parent, a police officer or other listed victim (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    20 years' criminal imprisonment

    Code pénal, art. 222-8

French law has no separate offence for a killing in the heat of passion. The closest offence is 'violence causing death without intent to kill'. A killing by negligence is also shown, because it is the mildest homicide offence.

Robbery

Up to 5 years (theft with violence causing no incapacity) up to life (violence causing death)

  • Theft preceded, accompanied or followed by violence causing no total incapacity for work (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    5 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €75,000

    Code pénal, art. 311-4

  • Theft with violence causing incapacity of 8 days or less (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    7 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €100,000

    Code pénal, art. 311-5

  • Theft with violence causing incapacity of more than 8 days (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    10 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €150,000

    Code pénal, art. 311-6

  • Theft with violence causing mutilation or permanent disability (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    15 years' criminal imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €150,000

    Code pénal, art. 311-7

  • Theft with use or threat of a weapon (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    20 years' criminal imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €150,000

    Code pénal, art. 311-8

  • Theft with violence causing death, or with torture or barbarous acts (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    Life imprisonment (réclusion criminelle à perpétuité)
    Fine
    Fine of up to €150,000

    Code pénal, art. 311-10

French law treats robbery as theft (vol) made worse by violence or a weapon. The more serious the violence, the higher the maximum.

Burglary

Up to 5 years (theft in a dwelling) up to 10 years (break-in with several aggravating circumstances)

  • Theft committed in a dwelling or a place for storing goods (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    5 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €75,000

    Raised to 7 years and €100,000 where two of the listed aggravating circumstances apply, and to 10 years and €150,000 where three apply.

    Code pénal, art. 311-4

  • Theft in a dwelling or a storage place, entering by trickery, forced entry or climbing (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    7 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €100,000

    Raised to 10 years and €150,000 where two of the circumstances of this article apply, or one of them together with one from article 311-4.

    Code pénal, art. 311-5

  • Theft with use or threat of a weapon (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    20 years' criminal imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €150,000

    Code pénal, art. 311-8

France has no offence named 'burglary'. Theft in a dwelling is a more serious form of theft, and breaking in by trickery, force or climbing makes it more serious still.

Arson

Up to 1 year (fire by negligence) up to life (fire causing death)

  • Destruction by fire or explosion caused by negligence (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    1 year's imprisonment (2 years where a safety rule was deliberately and manifestly violated)
    Fine
    Fine of up to €15,000 (€30,000 for the deliberate violation)

    Code pénal, art. 322-5

  • Destruction of another's property by fire or explosion, in a way that endangers people (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    10 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €150,000

    Code pénal, art. 322-6

  • The same, causing incapacity of 8 days or less (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    15 years' criminal imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €150,000

    Code pénal, art. 322-7

  • The same, by an organised gang, or causing incapacity of more than 8 days (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    20 years' criminal imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €150,000

    Code pénal, art. 322-8

  • The same, causing mutilation or permanent disability (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    30 years' criminal imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €150,000

    Code pénal, art. 322-9

  • The same, causing death (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    Life imprisonment (réclusion criminelle à perpétuité)
    Fine
    Fine of up to €150,000

    Code pénal, art. 322-10

Fires in woods, forests and similar land carry heavier maximums than the figures shown, which are for buildings and other property.

Aggravated assault

Up to 3 years (incapacity over 8 days) up to 15 years (mutilation, in aggravated cases)

  • Violence causing total incapacity for work of more than 8 days (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    3 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €45,000

    Code pénal, art. 222-11

  • The same, against a child under 15, a vulnerable person, a parent, a police officer or other listed victim (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    5 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €75,000

    Code pénal, art. 222-12

  • Violence causing mutilation or permanent disability (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    10 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €150,000

    Code pénal, art. 222-9

  • The same, against a child under 15, a vulnerable person, a parent, a police officer or other listed victim (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    15 years' criminal imprisonment

    Code pénal, art. 222-10

France sets the penalty by the harm done, measured in days of 'total incapacity for work' (incapacité totale de travail, ITT).

Rape and sexual assault

Up to 5 years (sexual assault other than rape) up to life (rape with torture)

  • Sexual assault other than rape (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    5 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €75,000

    Code pénal, art. 222-27

  • Rape (any act of sexual penetration or oral-genital contact by violence, constraint, threat or surprise) (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    15 years' criminal imprisonment

    Code pénal, art. 222-23

  • Rape causing mutilation or permanent disability, of a child under 15, or of a vulnerable person (listed circumstances) (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    20 years' criminal imprisonment

    Code pénal, art. 222-24

  • Rape causing the victim's death (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    30 years' criminal imprisonment

    A safety period applies automatically (art. 132-23): no early release for 18 years, which the court can raise to 22 and, in listed cases, to 30 years or to no early release at all.

    Code pénal, art. 222-25

  • Rape preceded, accompanied or followed by torture or barbarous acts (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    Life imprisonment (réclusion criminelle à perpétuité)

    A safety period applies automatically (art. 132-23): no early release for 18 years, which the court can raise to 22 and, in listed cases, to 30 years or to no early release at all.

    Code pénal, art. 222-26

Kidnapping

5 years (released before the 7th day) up to life (torture or death)

  • Arrest, abduction, detention or confinement of a person, released voluntarily before the 7th day (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    5 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €75,000

    Code pénal, art. 224-1

  • The same, without release before the 7th day (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    20 years' criminal imprisonment

    Code pénal, art. 224-1

  • Hostage taking, or kidnapping to obtain a ransom or an order (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    30 years' criminal imprisonment

    10 years' imprisonment if the hostage is released voluntarily before the 7th day, unless one of the harms in article 224-2 occurred.

    Code pénal, art. 224-4

  • Kidnapping with torture, barbarous acts or the victim's death (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    Life imprisonment (réclusion criminelle à perpétuité)

    Code pénal, art. 224-2

Embezzlement

Up to 5 years (breach of trust) up to 10 years (by a court officer or public official)

  • Abus de confiance (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    5 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €375,000

    Code pénal, art. 314-1

  • The same, by a person who raises funds from the public, a manager of a business, and other listed cases (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    7 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €750,000

    Code pénal, art. 314-2

  • The same, by a court-appointed agent or a public or ministerial officer (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    10 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €1,500,000

    Code pénal, art. 314-3

French law calls it 'abus de confiance', breach of trust: misusing money or property handed over to be returned or used in a set way.

Forgery

Up to 3 years (private documents) up to 15 years (public document, by an official)

  • Forgery and use of forgery (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    3 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €45,000

    Code pénal, art. 441-1

  • Forgery of a document issued by a public authority (identity, permits and the like) (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    5 years' imprisonment (7 in listed cases)
    Fine
    Fine of up to €75,000 (€100,000 in listed cases)

    Code pénal, art. 441-2

  • Forgery in a public or authentic document (Délit (emprisonnement))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    10 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €150,000

    Code pénal, art. 441-4

  • The same, by a person holding public authority or a public service mission in the exercise of the post (Crime (réclusion criminelle))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    15 years' criminal imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €225,000

    Code pénal, art. 441-4

Drunk driving, first offence

A fine (lower alcohol levels) or up to 3 years and €9,000 (0.80 g/l of blood or more)

  • Driving with alcohol below the délit threshold, for the drivers the regulation covers (public-transport drivers, probationary licence holders and others) (Contravention (traffic fine))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    A fine for a fourth-class contravention, with no prison term

    The code sets other, lower tiers for other drivers. This is the milder end.

    Code de la route, art. R234-1

  • Driving under the influence of alcohol at 0.80 g/l of blood or more (0.40 mg/l of breath) (Délit (imprisonment))

    Least
    No minimum term set by the statute
    Most
    3 years' imprisonment
    Fine
    Fine of up to €9,000

    The court may also suspend the licence for up to 5 years, cancel it with a ban of up to 5 years, order community work, confiscate the vehicle and impose other additional penalties (art. L234-2). The licence also loses half its maximum points.

    Code de la route, art. L234-1; L234-2

France sets the drunk-driving offence in the Code de la route, not the Code pénal. The blood-alcohol thresholds are set by the code at 0.80 g per litre of blood, or 0.40 mg per litre of breath.

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