Enacted parts

ARTICLE 122-6
A person is presumed to have acted in a state of self-defence if he performs an action 
1° to repulse at night an entry to an inhabited place committed by breaking in, violence or deception;
2° to defend himself against the perpetrators of theft or pillage carried out with violence.
ARTICLE 122-7
A person is not criminally liable if confronted with a present or imminent danger to himself, another person or
property, he performs an act necessary to ensure the safety of the person or property, except where the means used
are disproportionate to the seriousness of the threat.
ARTICLE 122-8
(Act no. 2002-1138 of 9 September 2002 art. 11 Official Journal of 10 September 2002)
Minors able to understand what they are doing are criminally responsible for the felonies, misdemeanours or petty
offences of which they have been found guilty, and are subject to measures of protection, assistance, supervision and
education according to the conditions laid down by specific legislation.
This legislation also determines the educational measures that may be imposed upon minors aged between ten and
eighteen years of age, as well as the penalties which may be imposed upon minors aged between thirteen and eighteen
years old, taking into account the reduction in responsibility resulting from their age.
TITLE III
OF PENALTIES
Articles 131-1 to 133-1
CHAPTER I
OF THE NATURE OF PENALTIES
Articles 131-1 to 131-49
SECTION I
Updated 12/10/2005 - Page 4/132

---

PENAL CODE
PENALTIES APPLICABLE TO NATURAL PERSONS
Articles 131-1 to
131-36-8
Subsection 1
Penalties for felonies
Articles 131-1 to 131-2
ARTICLE 131-1
The penalties incurred by natural persons for the commission of felonies are:
1° criminal imprisonment for life or life criminal detention;
2° criminal imprisonment or criminal detention for a maximum of thirty years;
3° criminal imprisonment or criminal detention for a maximum of twenty years;
4° criminal imprisonment or criminal detention for a maximum of fifteen years.
The minimum period for a fixed term of criminal imprisonment or criminal detention is ten years.