#2026-350France guarantees visitation rights for parliamentarians and bar leaders in places of detention
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This law strengthens independent oversight of places where people are deprived of liberty. Members of the French National Assembly, senators, French-elected members of the European Parliament, and local bar presidents or their designated delegates may visit these places at any time when detention is linked to criminal or administrative proceedings. Parliamentarians may be accompanied by professional journalists, except in police custody rooms, certain court holding areas, and specific health facilities. They may also bring parliamentary staff. Bar presidents may bring a designated lawyer. Detention facilities and public authorities will need to apply new access rules once implementing decrees set the details.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Allows parliamentarians, French-elected MEPs, and bar leaders to visit places of deprivation of liberty at any time
- Lets parliamentarians bring professional journalists, with exclusions for police custody rooms, certain court holding areas, and specific health facilities
- Allows parliamentarians and bar leaders to bring designated staff or legal professionals, with details to be set by implementing decrees
Obligations
What this law requires
Operators of places where a person is deprived of liberty in the context of a criminal or administrative procedure must allow deputies, senators, French-elected members of the European Parliament, and competent local bar presidents or their specially designated bar council delegates to visit at any time.
Operators of places of deprivation of liberty must permit visiting deputies, senators, and French-elected European Parliament representatives to be accompanied by one or more professional journalists holding the press card referred to in Article L. 7111-6 of the Labour Code, subject to conditions set by Conseil d'Etat decree.
Operators must not allow journalists accompanying parliamentarians into police custody premises, judicial court holding areas where detained persons await presentation to a magistrate or trial formation, or health facilities covered by Article L. 3222-4-1 of the Public Health Code.
Operators of places of deprivation of liberty must permit visiting deputies, senators, and French-elected European Parliament representatives to be accompanied by a parliamentary assistant, parliamentary official, or parliamentary assembly agent, under conditions set by Conseil d'Etat decree.
Operators of places of deprivation of liberty must permit visiting bar presidents or their specially designated delegates to be accompanied by a lawyer previously designated within the bar council, under conditions set by Conseil d'Etat decree.