The new government decree comes into effect on Tuesday, a month after a woman was killed by her ex-husband, who was released earlier than she thought.
Authorities will have to routinely notify victims of domestic violence when their violent spouse is released from prison, according to a new government decree that comes into effect on Tuesday.
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According to the decree, taken on December 24, the judicial authority must notify the victim of the release from detention of the violent spouse, whether he is awaiting trial or already sentenced. She must alsoexpressly provide» of «question the necessity» monitoring measures for the spouse and protection for the victim.
Terms specified in February
A month before the publication of the decree, a woman had been killed in Epinay-sur-Seine (Paris region) by her ex-husband released from prison earlier than she thought, after a remission of sentence. The one who apprehended his release according to his relatives, had not been informed.
Among the measures envisaged in the decree, the practical details of which should be specified in February: a ban on contacting or appearing in certain places, which can go – to be sure – to the granting for the victim of ‘a “phone serious danger(device allowing to urgently request the intervention of the police), or the pronouncement of an anti-reconciliation bracelet measure for the aggressor. It is also “avoid any break in monitoring“, for example between a judicial review and incarceration.
The judicial authority will also have to ensure that the anti-reconciliation bracelet, withdrawn from a man in the event of incarceration, is well rested in the event of permission to leave or at the time of his release if the measure is still in progress.
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“This decree marks a new step forward in the protection of victims of domestic violence because the release of a violent spouse is a key moment, which must be an opportunity to question the protective measures put in place and to inform the victims“said the Chancellery.
As of January 24, 479 men were equipped with anti-reconciliation bracelets and according to the latest figures (end of December), approximately 2,200 women equipped with “serious danger phones“. According to a report from the Ministry of the Interior, 146 women were victims of domestic violence in 2019, and 102 in 2020.