Juvenile delinquency: immersion in Toulouse at the heart of a juvenile court hearing
Hearings before the Toulouse Children’s Court take place very differently from those taking place next door for adults. Parents, educators are present in the room. Reporting.
Seller, treasurer or tout … At the Toulouse children’s court this Thursday, the office of the president of the hearing is mainly filled with cases related to drug trafficking. A young man, aged 17, appears in custody and is being prosecuted for two facts. In December 2020, he was arrested by the police in the Mirail district, a place well known for the sale of drugs. During this arrest, two other people were arrested. They are of legal age and were therefore judged by the Toulouse Criminal Court under the regime of immediate comparison. But juvenile justice operates differently from adult justice. A principle which is also retained in the reform which entered into force on September 30.
Already in the room is an educator or an educator of the Judicial Protection of Youth as well as the parents of the young person. During the hearing, the two parents present around this young man testify. “It’s very hard, I’m trying to help my son, I want a radical change from him, he’s my son, there is no debate about it but I want him to change” , assures his mother at the helm.
Strong words heard by the person concerned who seems to be touched by his mother’s speech. His father goes on to explain that as parents they “have no intention of letting go of the case”. His educator with whom he had differences during his follow-up explains chronologically the support offered to this young person. Already condemned by the juvenile court, this future adult was arrested again a few months after his conviction for drug trafficking, in the same neighborhood. This time he was being prosecuted for alerting drug dealers that the police were coming. A reiteration of the facts which pushes the president to warn him. “You will have the majority very soon, if you continue in this way it could very badly go for you”, she blurted in the direction of the defendant who lowers his eyes. “I want to stop messing around, I want to work,” he replies. Sentenced to a mixed sentence, the young man was released after his comparison. He must return to his mother and will initially be accompanied by the educators of the PJJ by his majority.