délit

Délit is a term used in French criminal law to describe a category of offenses that are more serious than contraventions (minor offenses) but less serious than crimes (the most serious offenses). The word derives from Latin delictum, meaning fault or offense. In systems that use a three-tier framework, délits occupy the middle ground and are typically punishable by imprisonment, fines, or a combination of penalties, with the exact sanctions set by statute and judicial decisions.

Typical examples of délits include offenses such as theft, fraud, certain forms of bodily harm or assault causing injury, and various property or public-order offenses. The precise classification of an act as a délit depends on the applicable penal code provisions and the circumstances of the case. By contrast, crimes usually involve more serious conduct and penalties, such as long-term imprisonment, while contraventions cover minor acts punishable mainly by fines or light penalties.

Procedurally, délits are investigated by police and prosecuted by public authorities in criminal courts. In France, délits are commonly handled by courts of correction (tribunal correctionnel), whereas crimes are tried before the cour d’assises with a broader jury involvement. Depending on the jurisdiction and the case, some délits may involve preliminary investigations or judicial oversight by an investigating judge before charges proceed to trial, and there are avenues for appeal in the appellate courts.

Outside France, the term is used in other Francophone legal systems with variations in scope and procedure. In some civil-law contexts, délits may also appear in civil liability discussions to denote wrongful conduct causing harm, though this use is distinct from criminal délits.