I have been summoned before the criminal court

A summons before the criminal court (tribunal correctionnel) means the prosecutor has decided to prosecute. The hearing must be prepared: the case file, the documents, what you will say to the court. Here is how to prepare.

Has a hearing date been set? The earlier your lawyer has the file, the better they can defend you. +33 7 75 72 74 27, available 24/7.

What document have you received?

Summons by a police officer handed over at the end of an investigation;
citation served by a judicial officer (commissaire de justice);
summons by official report handed over by the prosecutor;
summons for a guilty plea procedure (CRPC);
criminal order (ordonnance pénale): a conviction without a hearing, which you can challenge by filing an objection within 45 days.

Each has its own rules and deadlines: show it to a lawyer as soon as you receive it.

Before the hearing

Request a copy of the case file to know the evidence against you.
Gather documents on your situation: tax notice, payslips, employment contract, proof of address, family situation, ongoing treatment, proof that you have compensated the victim.
Prepare your explanations with your lawyer: the facts, the context, your situation today.

How the hearing works

Your case is called; your identity is checked.
The presiding judge summarises the facts, then you give your explanations and answer the court’s questions.
The victim or their lawyer (civil party) speaks.
The prosecutor makes submissions and proposes a sentence.
Your lawyer pleads.
You have the last word.
The court gives its decision the same day or at a later date.

If you cannot attend

You may ask to be tried in your absence and represented by your lawyer. Doing nothing is the worst option: the court will rule without hearing your arguments.

After the judgment

You generally have 10 days to appeal. The prosecutor and the civil party may also appeal.

What the lawyer does

Obtains and analyses the file, raises procedural irregularities.
Prepares the hearing and the documents with you.
Pleads on guilt and on sentence (suspended sentence, community service, adjusted sentence).
Represents you if you cannot attend.
Advises on whether to appeal.

Let’s prepare your hearing. +33 7 75 72 74 27, 24/7, or contact@barssie-avocats.com.

Frequently asked questions

Can I ask for the hearing to be postponed? Yes, for a serious reason (preparing your defence, changing lawyer). The court decides.

Will this appear on my criminal record? A conviction is entered on the criminal record. Your lawyer can ask that it not appear on bulletin no. 2, the extract some employers may see.

What is a CRPC? The prosecutor proposes a sentence; if you accept it with your lawyer, a judge approves it. A lawyer is compulsory.

General information, up to date as of October 2026. It does not replace advice tailored to your situation.

See also: Summoned by the police · Fees and legal aid · Glossary