Section 5: Work release, semi-liberty, temporary absences and escorted absences

The sentenced person admitted to the benefit of work release is required, under the supervision of the administration, to carry out activities outside the prison establishment. The semi-liberty regime is defined by Article 132-26 of the Penal Code. A decree determines the conditions under which these various measures are granted and applied.

The sentence enforcement judge may provide that the sentence will be served under the semi-liberty or work release scheme either in the event of a sentence of one or more custodial sentences whose total duration does not exceed two years, or where the sentenced person still has to serve one or more custodial sentences whose total duration does not exceed two years. The sentence enforcement judge may also make the…

Where the provisions of article 132-25 of the Penal Code, the sentence enforcement judge shall set the terms and conditions for the execution of the semi-liberty or work release by an order that is not subject to appeal, within a maximum period of four months from the date on which the sentence becomes enforceable and within a period of five working days when the sentencing court has ordered the placement…

Permission to go out authorises a convicted offender to be absent from a prison establishment for a set period of time that counts against the length of the sentence being served. The purpose of this leave is to prepare for the convicted person’s professional or social reintegration, to maintain family ties or to enable them to fulfil an obligation requiring their presence. When a first temporary leave has been granted…

The sentence enforcement judge may make the granting of work release, semi-liberty or permission to go out to the sentenced person subject to compliance with one or more obligations or prohibitions set out in the articles 132-44 and 132-45 of the Penal Code. The convicted person may also benefit from the assistance measures provided for in article 132-46 of the same code.

Without prejudice to the application of Article 434-29 of the Penal Code, in the event of a conviction for a felony or misdemeanour committed intentionally during a temporary absence, the court may decide that the convicted person will lose the benefit of any reductions in sentence previously granted to him or her.

A convicted offender may, under the conditions of l’article 712-5, exceptionally obtain an escorted exit permit.