France considers revising juvenile criminal responsibility amid rising youth crime
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez sparked a debate on Monday regarding the so-called “excuse of minority,” a legal principle that limits prison sentences for minors compared to adults. Speaking on BFMTV, Nuñez criticized the provision, which reduces penalties for young offenders, arguing that it may no longer be appropriate in light of increasing involvement of minors in serious crimes.
The minister referred to a recent case in Grenoble where a magistrate and her mother were kidnapped. Among the six suspects, one was a minor. Nuñez highlighted that young people are sometimes used by criminal networks to carry out acts such as home invasions, drug trafficking, and violent altercations, noting that the current law exposes them to lighter sentences.
Asked whether France should consider removing the minor excuse, Nuñez responded that it is a question worth examining. He stressed that the involvement of minors in severe crimes, including armed confrontations and kidnappings, justifies a review of the principle.
The discussion follows the June 2025 ruling by the Constitutional Council, which struck down parts of a previous law aimed at tightening juvenile justice. The law had proposed that judges justify the application of reduced sentences for offenders aged 16 to 18 committing serious or repeat offenses, effectively reversing the current system where non-application must be justified.
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