Piling up of reforms, lack of resources and personnel, faulty digital equipment… “On a daily basis, it is becoming more and more difficult to render justice calmly and quickly”, notes Rémi Coutin, the public prosecutor of the judicial court of Chartres.
The magistrate was one of the eleven members of the board of directors of the CNPR (National Conference of Public Prosecutors), to detail before the national press recently, at the court of Bobigny (Seine-Saint-Denis), their ten proposals “for the future of criminal justice”.
“We are not in a position of protest or rejection of the reforms proposed by the government. As magistrates in the field, we want to be a source of proposals. »
Remi Coutin (Procurator of the Republic of the judicial court of Chartres)
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Independence from the prosecution
The first of these proposals is one of those that come up regularly: the independence of the prosecution. While the presidents of courts are appointed by the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM), the heads of public prosecutor’s offices are proposed by the Ministry of Justice. “President Macron has looked into this problem, remarks Rémi Coutin. But it is necessary to modify the constitution, and the majority of three fifths of the united deputies and senators was not guaranteed. The reform of the statute of the prosecution risks remaining a wishful thinking for many years to come.
Parliamentarians and magistrates met in Chartres to discuss the judicial system
More human resources
“It is this lack of means that limits us in our action, because of the lack of personnel. And this lack of means, I have known it in all the parquet floors where I have been, for 21 years, ”laments Rémi Coutin.
Eight magistrates compose that of Chartres. “I would like to pay tribute to their commitment, but to function properly, we would need to be twelve. The public prosecutor does not despair of obtaining the creation of a ninth post of magistrate of the prosecution in Chartres.
“All agree that the criminal procedure is too complex, but they make it more complex.”
Remi Coutin
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Strengthen investigative power
In addition to these two proposals, which are more akin to demands, the justice of everyday life is one of the concerns of the prosecutors of the 164 judicial courts in France. One of their proposals aims to simplify and make the investigation more efficient, by giving more power to prosecutors. “Not only are we the guardians of individual freedom, assures Rémi Coutin, but we are also the first judges of innocence or guilt in a file. We weigh the pros and cons, and we only prosecute if we have evidence. »
Prosecutors want to see their powers of investigation strengthened by broadening their prerogatives, and allowing them to order coercive measures (electronic bracelet, search without consent, etc.).
Strengthen the number and quality of investigation services
But the strengthening of their investigative powers cannot work without increased efficiency of the services in charge of investigations.
“All politicians agree that criminal procedure is too complex, but all continue to produce laws that make it more complex. The investigators are drowned in the administration. »
Remi Coutin
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And the latter to continue: “We should also strengthen the number and quality of the investigative services. For example, in our department, we do not have enough investigators specialized in financial matters. It’s a real problem. »
Eure-et-Loir: 2.7 million euros of property seized in 2020
Prevention, fight against recidivism, better consideration of victims, decriminalization of minor offenses, fight against addictions, digital transformation and improved judicial communication, are also part of the other avenues launched by the CNPR.
So many proposals that will perhaps be taken up by the candidates for the presidential election, for a more efficient and serene justice.
A protocol for reporting sexual offenses established between the prosecution and the diocese of Chartres
Jacques Joannopoulos
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