Justice orientation and programming act 2023-2027

Give the justice system the means it needs to function efficiently: a multi-year path of resources reaching close to €11bn in 2027, 10,000 additional jobs, 15,000 additional prison places over 2018-2027, the digitalisation of the ministry and shorter processing times — a target average civil processing time of 11.5 months at the end of 2027.[7][1]

according to the government (statement of reasons and report annexed to the act)

• Payment appropriations of the « Justice » mission, excluding pensions

  €10.75bn

  2027 · according to article 1 of the act[1][10]

  +21% compared with the 2022 initial finance act (€8.862bn).

• Net job creations at the Ministry of Justice

  10,000

  by 2027 (FTE) · according to article 1 of the act[1]

  Includes 605 FTE recruited in 2022 for local justice.

• Additional magistrates

  1,500

  by 2027 · according to article 1 of the act[1]

• Additional court clerks (greffiers)

  1,800

  by 2027 · according to article 1 of the act[1][7]

  The bill as tabled planned 1,500 clerks.

• Additional prison places (construction programme)

  15,000

  2018-2027 · according to the report annexed to the act[1]

• Single-cell occupancy rate across the prison estate

  80%

  target · according to the report annexed to the act[1]

  Against 40.4% when the act was passed.

• Yearly path of payment appropriations for the « Justice » mission, excluding pensions: €9.579bn in 2023, €10.081bn in 2024, €10.681bn in 2025, €10.691bn in 2026 and €10.748bn in 2027; a report to Parliament before 30 April every year.[1]
• 10,000 net job creations by 2027, including 1,500 magistrates and 1,800 court clerks; new posts of « attachés de justice » and specialised assistants to support magistrates (attachés may attend deliberations but not take part).[1][2]
• Authorisation to rewrite the legislative part of the Code of Criminal Procedure by ordinance within two years, without changing the substance of the law; the ordinance may take effect no earlier than one year after publication (a safeguard added by the Senate).[1][8][2]
• Criminal procedure changes: night searches in the flagrante delicto inquiry into crimes against persons, on the authorisation of the liberty and custody judge; remote activation of devices for geolocation; video medical examination in extended police custody under conditions — most in force since 30 September 2024.[2][1]
• Four-year experiment of « tribunaux des activités économiques » (economic activity courts) with a contribution for economic justice, evaluated in a report to Parliament at least six months before it ends.[1][2]
• Wage garnishment entrusted to a commissaire de justice instead of the enforcement judge (debtor’s suspensive appeal within one month), in force by 1 July 2025 at the latest.[2][1]
• Organic act no. 2023-1058: a professional competition replaces direct entry routes into the magistracy, a real third grade in the judicial hierarchy, honorary magistrates serving until 75, a reformed disciplinary procedure and better handling of litigants’ complaints.[9][3]