Criminal Lawyer Paris | Rift Attorneys

The criminal lawyers at RIFT assist both victims of criminal offences and defendants in criminal proceedings. 

Our lawyers, experienced in criminal law, assist their clients in all phases of the proceedings, both at the investigation stage and at the pre-trial stage, from police custody to trial.

In case of emergency, contact our criminal lawyers at the following number :

+33 1 81 69 73 72

RIFT's criminal lawyers work with their clients to define the most appropriate strategy for obtaining both full compensation for the damage suffered and a fair sentence for the perpetrator. With this in mind, the firm's criminal lawyers accompany you from the time you file a complaint until you obtain a final court decision, both in the civil action and in the public action.

The development of an appropriate strategy by our criminal lawyers

From the very first meeting, our criminal lawyers decide with their clients whether to file a complaint at the police station, to file a complaint directly with the public prosecutor or to file a direct summons before the criminal court.

Gathering of evidence by our lawyers

For each case, our criminal lawyers work to gather evidence, in particular by resorting to summary proceedings, bailiff's reports or even obtaining video surveillance images.

Assistance from our criminal lawyers when filing a complaint

Our criminal lawyers are aware of the deplorable reception conditions that victims sometimes face when they go to the police station to file a complaint. 

This is why our lawyers offer to accompany our clients when they file a complaint so that it is properly recorded. Our criminal lawyers strive to provide both legal and moral support.

FILING A COMPLAINT

DIRECT SUMMONS

COMPLAINT WITH CIVIL ACTION

ACCOMPANIMENT TO THE POLICE STATION

CONFRONTATION

HEARING

COMPLAINT TO THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

CIVIL ACTION

INDEMNIFICATION

Filing a complaint by victims of crime

Can a police officer or gendarme refuse to take my complaint?

No. The police are obliged to receive your complaint, even if you have gone to a police station other than the one where the offence took place (art. 15-3, C. proc. pén.).

Do I have the right to be accompanied by a lawyer when filing a complaint?

Yes. Since Act No. 2021-1729 on confidence in the judiciary, which came into force on 24 December 2021, the Code of Criminal Procedure expressly provides for the possibility of the victim being accompanied at "all stages of the investigation [...] by his or her legal representative and by the adult of his or her choice, including by a lawyer" (Art. 10-4, C. proc. pén.).

What can I do if my complaint is dismissed?

The fact that a complaint has been dropped does not mean that you no longer have any recourse. It is therefore possible, even after a complaint has been dismissed, either to bring a case directly before a criminal court by means of a direct summons, or to bring a civil action before an investigating court. You can also bypass the criminal court and take direct action before a civil court to claim damages.

Criminal defence of defendants by our criminal lawyers

Criminal defence is at the heart of our commitment. RIFT assists defendants in criminal or misdemeanour cases, from the very first stages of the proceedings. 

Our firm is also involved in sentence adjustments.

The tracking down of procedural errors by our criminal lawyers

In each of the cases entrusted to us, our lawyers search for, identify and raise all irregularities that may affect the validity of the criminal proceedings.

"Form is the sworn enemy of arbitrariness, the twin sister of liberty " - Rudolf Von Jhering

Assistance from our criminal lawyers in the event of police custody

A. The appointment of a lawyer in police custody

From the outset of police custody, the suspect may request the assistance of a lawyer of his or her choice. If the person in custody does not know a lawyer, he or she may ask for one to be appointed ex officio (C. proc. pén., art. 63-3-1, para. 1).

If the person concerned requests a court-appointed lawyer, the President of the Bar is informed by all means and without delay (C. proc. pén., art. 63-3-1, para. 2). It is the President of the Bar or his delegate who will then appoint a lawyer for the person in custody.

In addition, the lawyer may also be appointed by the relatives of the person in custody. In this case, however, the appointment must be confirmed by the detainee himself (C. proc. pén., art. 63-3-1, para. 3).

Once appointed, the lawyer is informed by a judicial police officer or by a judicial police officer of the nature and presumed date of the criminal offence (C. proc. pén., art. 63-3-1, para 4).

B. Confidential interviews with the appointed lawyer

Once appointed, the lawyer can then interview his client. This interview takes place, in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure :

confidentially (C. proc. pén., art. 63-4, para. 1),

for 30 minutes (C. proc. pén., art. 63-4, para. 2).

At the end of each interview the lawyer may make written observations which are placed in the file and sent to the prosecutor (C. proc. pén., art. 63-4-3, para. 3).

Thereafter, the lawyer may meet with his client again at the beginning of each extension of custody, under the same conditions (C. proc. pén., art. 63-4, para. 3).

C. The lawyer during hearings and confrontations

The presence of the lawyer during hearings and confrontations

In addition to the confidential 30-minute interview mentioned above, the person in custody may also request the assistance of a criminal lawyer during hearings by the investigators and during confrontations with any witnesses or victims (C. proc. pén., art. 63-4-2, para. 1).

If the client decides to be assisted by a lawyer during these hearings and confrontations, the first hearing, except if it concerns only elements of identity, may not begin without the presence of the lawyer before the expiry of a waiting period (art. 63-4-2, para. 1):

of 2 hours,

from the notification sent by the investigation service to the lawyer.

On the other hand, after the expiry of this two-hour waiting period, the investigators are no longer obliged to wait for the presence of the lawyer before beginning the hearings and confrontations. Once the lawyer has been appointed, the hearing or confrontation may, however, be interrupted if it has already begun, at the request of the person in police custody, to allow time for the interview provided for in Article 63-4 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to take place and for the appointed lawyer to acquaint himself with the documents provided for in Article 63-4-1 (C. proc. pén., Art. 63-4-2, para. 2).

The role of the lawyer during hearings or confrontations

During hearings or confrontations, the lawyer's role is to ensure that the rights of the person in custody and the rules of criminal procedure are fully respected. The lawyer may of course take notes during the hearing or confrontation (C. proc. pén., art. 63-4-2, para. 1).

At the end of each hearing or confrontation, the lawyer may also ask questions. The judicial police officer or agent may, however, refuse to do so if he or she considers that such questions are likely to prejudice the proper conduct of the investigation. In this case, a note of this refusal is made in the record (C. proc. pén., art. 63-4-3, para. 2). 

At the end of the hearing or confrontation, the lawyer must also ensure that the record is exactly consistent with what was said and that no wording, addition or omission can harm the client's interests.

The lawyer may also make written observations, which will be placed in the procedural file. He may also send these written observations directly to the public prosecutor (C. proc. pén., art. 63-4-3, para. 3).

D. Access to part of the file

When appointed, the lawyer of the person placed in police custody may consult the following documents (C. proc. pén., art. 63-4-1, para. 1):

• The report of the notification of placement in police custody and the rights attached to it;

• The medical certificate;

• And the minutes of the hearing of the person in custody.

In case of emergency, contact our criminal lawyers at the following number :

+33 1 81 69 73 72

Our law firm is located in the first arrondissement of Paris, close to the Cour de cassation and the historic Palais de justice, now the Cour d'appel de Paris. 

We obviously work in Paris, but also in Seine-et-Marne (77), Yvelines (78), Essone (91), Hauts-de-Seine (92), Seine-Saint-Denis (93), Val-de-Marne (94) and Val-d'Oise (95).  

In criminal cases, as well as in matters of delinquency and organised crime, our criminal lawyers intervene throughout France, including in Overseas France, particularly in Martinique and Guadeloupe. 

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Page published on 26 November 2022

Criminal defence

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