Enacted parts

PARTICIPATION IN A CRIMINAL ASSOCIATION
Articles 450-1 to 450-5
ARTICLE 450-1
(Act no. 2001-420 of 15th May 2001 Article 45 Official Journal 16 May 2001; Ordinance no. 2000-916 of 19 September
2000 Article 3 Official Journal of 22 September 2000 in force 1 January 2002) 
A criminal association consists of any group formed or any conspiracy established with a view to the preparation,
marked by one or more material actions, of one or more felonies, or of one or more misdemeanours punished by at least
five years' imprisonment.
Where the offences contemplated are felonies or misdemeanours punished by ten years' imprisonment, the
participation in a criminal association is punished by ten years' imprisonment and a fine of €150,000.
Where the offences contemplated are misdemeanours punished by at least five years' imprisonment, the
participation in a criminal association is punished by five years' imprisonment and a fine of €75,000.
ARTICLE 450-2
Any person who has participated in the group or the conspiracy defined by article 450-1 is exempted from
punishment if, before any prosecution is instituted, he discloses the existence of the group or conspiracy to the
competent authorities and enables the other participants to be identified. 
ARTICLE 450-2-1
(Act no. 2001-420 of 15th May 2001 Article 45 Official Journal 16 May 2001; Ordinance no. 2000-916 of 19 September
2000 Article 3 Official Journal of 22 September 2000 in force 1 January 2002)
The inability by a person to justify an income corresponding to his way of life, while being habitually in contact with
persons engaged in activities set out under article 450-1, is punished by five years' imprisonment and a fine of €75,000.
ARTICLE 450-3
Natural persons convicted of the offence referred to under articles 450-1 also incur the following additional
penalties:
1° forfeiture of civic, civil and family rights, pursuant to the conditions set out under article 131-26
2° prohibition to hold public office or to undertake a social or professional activity in the course of which or on the
occasion of the performance of which the offence was committed pursuant to the conditions set out under article 131-27;
3° area banishment pursuant to the conditions under article 131-31.
The other additional penalties incurred for the felonies or misdemeanours that the group or conspiracy was
designed to commit may also be pronounced against such persons.
ARTICLE 450-4
(Act no. 98-468 of 17 June 1998 Article 22 Official Journal 18 June 1998)
Legal persons may incur criminal liability pursuant to the conditions set out under article 121-2 for the offence
provided for under article 450-1.
The penalties incurred by legal persons are:
Updated 12/10/2005 - Page 116/132

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PENAL CODE
1° a fine, in the manner prescribed to under Article 131-38;
2° the penalties referred to under article 131-39.
The prohibition referred to under 2° of article 131-39 applies to the activities in the course of which or on the
occasion of the performance of which the offence was committed.
ARTICLE 450-5
(Inserted by Act no. 2004-204 of 9 March 2004 article 6 XV Official Journal of 10 March 2004)
Natural and legal persons convicted of the offences set out under the second paragraph of article 450-1 and article
450-2-1 also incur the additional penalty of confiscation of all or part of their assets, whatever their nature, movable or
immovable, severally or jointly owned.