[bluechip]

Hi, this curiosity question just occurred to me, fortunately not due to any real experience related to my life.

In the US, from my knowledge mostly from films actually, if you are arrested by the police or taken down to the station for questioning, you can refuse to talk until you have a lawyer present.

Is there such a law in France? I have never seen a character who is taken to a French police station say this in a French film.

 

[Bevdeforges]

I suppose it depends on precisely why you are taken to a French police station - but AFAIK there isn't the same right to having a lawyer present in France as in the US.

Part of it may be that the police in France have a somewhat different function than do the American cops. The other is that the job of an attorney is somewhat different. (I have rather bad experiences with French attorneys, and I admit to not having much faith in them.)
Cheers,
Bev

 

[bluechip]

Part of it may be that the police in France have a somewhat different function than do the American cops.
Bev

What difference is that?

 

[Bevdeforges]

There are different "levels" of police in France - municipal, and a couple national levels. The gendarmes that everyone considers "police" here are a national group and are organized almost like the military. The Wikipedia article on law enforcement in France is actually quite informative: Law enforcement in France - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cheers,
Bev

 

[bluechip]

Thanks. Next time I run into a Franco-American lawyer, I'll ask the question. Now I am curious.

 

[GALLUS]

name

In France, just a bit different
- you may refuse to talk untill they torture you severely

Jokes apart
- disclosure of name, nationality, age and address is compulsory
- the rest is not, you may then ask to be presented to the juge d'instruction (in a criminal case)
- detention without charges is 48 hours, which you will get since you refused to answer the police, and it can be extended to 4 days in total in case of terror and narcotics. Enjoy. But 48 hours repeating only names, age and address, is still fun.
- but because there is a "speed justice" trail (for flagrants delits, if you are caught in the act) for misdeameanors , then you will not meet any judge and be draged straight to court. Oups. There, the trial court judge will make the questions, better answer.
- foreigners that refuse to collaborate may be forcibly deported, even EU citizen or even wrongly charged for rebellion to police or contempt to magistarte or court. Be carefull.

if you do not know, keep quiet


Best

 

[bluechip]

In France, just a bit different
- you may refuse to talk untill they torture you severely

Best

Thanks for the info, Gallus. In my other life I would have been a lawyer.

Given that you seem to understand well the French system and French attitudes, I have a related question. I have always found disturbing to read news of prisoners committing suicide in French prisons. It seems we hear of it with a certain frequency. In the US, for example, it's very rare that one hears of someone in prison committing suicide, unless the person was particularly infamous for some reason.

Do you think there are just as many prison suicides in France as in other comparable countries --like democracies, etc? (not to compare it to Syria, for example!)

Do French people think there is problem with their prisons? I do not hear much discussion in the French media about this, but then again, I consume moderate to low amounts of French media content.

Americans, for example, are always discussing issues related to prisons and crime.

 

[GALLUS]

Overcrowding and sluggish judicial process, in addition to severe humiliations are main grounds for inmates suicides in France. Aggravting factor, 50% of inmates suffer from mild to severe mental disease.