Penal policy
Penal policy in France has moved on a great deal since the creation of the French Code of Criminal Law in 1791: then, prison was a place of punishment and correction for the prisoner.
Beginning in 1945, a genuine policy for the rehabilitation and social reintegration of those convicted has developed. The many reforms undertaken since the early 1980s have focused on two main points :
 improvements in the conditions of detention and prisoners’ rights (notably with regard to healthcare provision),
 the development of alternatives to custodial sentences. The most recent laws (the so-called “Perben Laws”) go down this road:
 law 2002-1138 of 9 September 2002 laying down an ongoing programme and policy focuses on the criminal justice system: refurbishment of existing prison accommodation, improvements in prisoners’
living conditions, help for social and employment reintegration, the creation of closed educational centres for minors placed subject to supervision orders or given suspended
sentences conditional on a period of probation.
 l aw 2004-204 of 9 March 2004 making changes to the criminal justice system to reflect changes in the nature of crime: a broadening of measures providing alternatives to custodial sentences.
This policy is implemented by the Prison Administration Directorate (DAP) at the Ministry of Justice, which has two core tasks: enforcement of the decisions of the courts and
prevention of repeated offences by facilitating social reintegration. It covers those serving sentences in closed establishments (custodial sentences
involving loss of liberty) and non-custodial sentences (involving measures other than imprisonment: supervision orders, suspended sentences or community work).
●Penal policy 18 May 2006
It “favours the social reintegration of individuals entrusted to its care by the judicial authorities” (under the law of 22 June 1987) in collaboration with partners in the
public sector or not-for-profit associations. Since the decree of 13 April 1999, this task forms part of the remit of the Penal Reintegration and Probation Departments (SPIP - Services
Pénitentiaires d’Insertion et de Probation). The latter monitor those serving both custodial and non-custodial sentences.

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