Home › Explained sheets › Rights and duties
Obeying the law: offences (1/2)
Everyone must obey the laws. They guarantee public order and everyone's safety.
Key points of the sheet
- Criminal offences are acts or behaviours forbidden by law. The judge decides the penalties according to how serious they are.
- The minor offence (contravention) is the least serious offence, for example speeding. The fine is at most 3,000 €, with no prison possible.
- The minor offence (contravention) is judged by the police court (tribunal de police).
- The offence (délit) is a middle-level offence, for example theft or tax fraud. The criminal court (tribunal correctionnel) judges it.
- An offence (délit) is punished by a fine of at least 3,750 € and 2 months to 10 years in prison.
- The serious crime (crime) is the most serious offence, for example murder or terrorism. An attempted crime can always be punished.
- A serious crime is punished by a fine of at least 3,750 € and 15 years to life in prison. The cour d'assises and the cour criminelle judge it.
Words to know
- criminal offences (infractions pénales)
- They are acts or behaviours forbidden by law.
- minor offence (contravention)
- It is the least serious offence, punished by a fine of at most 3,000 €.
- offence (délit)
- It is a middle-level offence, for example theft or harassment.
- serious crime (crime)
- It is the most serious offence, for example rape or armed robbery.
- police court (tribunal de police)
- It is the court that judges minor offences.
- criminal court (tribunal correctionnel)
- It is the court that judges offences (délits).
- cour d'assises (court for serious crimes)
- With the cour criminelle, it judges people accused of a serious crime.
- life imprisonment (perpétuité)
- It means prison for life. A serious crime can be punished by 15 years to life.
Test yourself: 3 questions
What is the maximum fine for a minor offence (contravention)?
In French, the language of the exam: Quelle est l'amende maximum pour une contravention ?
A minor offence is punished by a fine of at most 3,000 €.
Which court judges offences (délits)?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel tribunal juge les délits ?
An offence (délit) is judged by the criminal court (tribunal correctionnel).
What prison sentence is set for a serious crime?
In French, the language of the exam: Quelle peine de prison est prévue pour un crime ?
A serious crime is punished by 15 years to life in prison.
You have read the sheet. See where you stand with 40 questions like the real exam.
Take the free mock exam (40 questions)Free mock exam · Exam Pass €19 incl. VAT, paid once, no subscription
Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
- Can a person choose not to follow a law?
- Which power does a judge hold?
- Who must obey the law?
- Who punishes the person who commits a theft?
- What is an infraction (infraction)?
- What does a person who does not respect the law risk?
More in this topic (Obligations and duties of people living in France)
Source
Sheet “Se conformer aux lois : les infractions (1/2)” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.