General principles of french criminal law

**Admin** Thu Dec 31, 2009 1:03 pm

GENERAL PRINCIPLES Articles 111-1 to 111-5
ARTICLE 111-1
Criminal offences are categorised as according to their seriousness as felonies, misdemeanours or petty offences.
ARTICLE 111-2
Statute defines felonies and misdemeanours and determines the penalties applicable to their perpetrators.
Regulations define petty offences and determine the penalties applicable to those who commit them, within the
limits and according to the distinctions established by law.
ARTICLE 111-3
No one may be punished for a felony or for a misdemeanour whose ingredients are not defined by statute, nor for a
petty offence whose ingredients are not defined by a regulation.
No one may be punished by a penalty which is not provided for by the statute, if the offence is a felony or a
misdemeanour, or by a regulation, if the offence is a petty offence.
ARTICLE 111-4
Criminal legislation is to be construed strictly.
ARTICLE 111-5
Criminal courts have jurisdiction to interpret administrative decisions of a regulatory or individual nature, and to
appreciate their legality where the solution to the criminal case they are handling depends upon such examination.[/size]