Legislative part

The record of the proceedings shall remain deposited at the registry for forty-eight hours in the case of pre-trial detention, and for five days in all other cases. It shall then proceed in accordance with articles 197,198 and 199.

The investigating chamber shall rule in a single judgment on all the facts between which there is a connection.

It examines whether there are sufficient charges against the person under investigation.

If the investigating chamber considers that the facts do not constitute a crime, offence or contravention or if the perpetrator remains unknown or if there are insufficient charges against the person under investigation, it declares that there are no grounds to proceed. The persons under investigation who are provisionally detained are released. The ruling terminates judicial supervision or house arrest with electronic surveillance. The Investigating Chamber rules by the same…

The investigating chamber may order, at the request of the person concerned, or, with that person’s agreement, of its own motion or at the request of the public prosecutor’s office either the publication in full or in part of the judgment dismissing the case, or the insertion of an announcement informing the public of the grounds and operative part thereof, in one or more newspapers, periodicals or electronic public communication…

When it declares that there are no grounds to follow up on the outcome of an investigation opened on the basis of a civil party, the investigating chamber may, at the request of the public prosecutor and in a reasoned decision, if it considers that the civil party’s application was abusive or dilatory, order a civil fine against the civil party, the amount of which may not exceed 15,000 euros….

If the Investigating Chamber considers that the facts constitute a misdemeanour or a contravention, it orders the case to be referred to the Criminal Court, in the first case, and to the Police Court, in the second case. Article 184 shall apply. The detained defendant is immediately released and the judicial supervision order is terminated. However, the Investigating Chamber may apply, in a specially reasoned judgment, the provisions set out…

If the acts charged against the persons under investigation constitute an offence classified as a felony by law, the investigating chamber shall order the indictment before the assize court or before the departmental criminal court. It may also refer related offences to the competent criminal court.

The committal order shall contain, on pain of nullity, the statement and legal classification of the facts, which are the subject of the charge, and shall specify the identity of the accused. It also states, if applicable, that the accused benefits from the provisions of Article 132-78 of the Penal Code. The articles 181 and 184 are applicable. The accused shall be notified of the committal order in accordance with…

The judgments of the Investigating Chamber are signed by the President and the Registrar. They shall mention the names of the judges, the filing of exhibits and briefs, the reading of the report, the submissions of the public prosecutor and, where applicable, the hearing of the parties or their lawyers. The chamber shall order the perpetrator of the offence to pay the civil party the sum it determines, in respect…