“We will intervene in what we call the pre-sentencing phase, that is, before the judgment,” explains Thomas Germain. “We conduct enhanced social investigations for correctional courts and also personality assessments for Assize courts.” It involves verifying the social ties of the individual, their family situation, health, and housing.
An idea initiated by the Vera Institute of Justice in New York, and also by Robert Badinter's desire to incorporate the notion of adaptability of the sentence into the French penal code. Indeed, the more we focus on the social environment of the person, the more we pronounce a sentence that will be understood, that will be useful, and thus will promote reintegration and prevent recidivism.
The APCARS, which stands for the Association for Applied Criminal Policy and Social Reintegration, also intervenes post-sentencing, based on the observation that after detention, it is also necessary to work on the social ties of the individual through appropriate support.
Within 5 years following release from detention, 60% of former inmates reoffend. When they go through one of the association's housing facilities, this rate drops to below 10%.
Moreover, APCARS has also recognized that the major oversight in the criminal justice chain is the victim. The association has committed to supporting them through legal, social, and psychological assistance, enabling them to regain a more peaceful and serene life path.
Finally, the association has also embraced the tool of restorative justice, which has been in use for about ten years, allowing for the parallel progression of victims and defendants in a concurrent manner. This method proves particularly effective, both in terms of resilience for victims and in reducing recidivism and raising awareness for offenders.
“We will restore possibilities for calming through a mutual understanding between the individuals involved in delinquent or criminal acts,” specifies Ugo Picard.
