Bring psychiatrists and psychologists back to the courts. Eric Dupond-Moretti is due to announce on Monday a revaluation of the remuneration of these experts who are becoming increasingly rare. While they were 537 registered on the lists of the courts of appeal in 2011, psychiatric experts and psychologists were only 338 in 2017, according to figures from the Chancellery.
At the same time, more and more expertises are requested by judges (49,000 psychiatric expertises and 39,755 psychological expertises were ordered in 2019), while the legislator has made them compulsory for sexual offenses or when a protected adult is implicated. . Responsible for evaluating the discernment of the perpetrator of an offense at the time of the facts and so to say whether he should be considered criminally responsible for his acts, the judicial experts are also called upon to adapt the sentences, in particular to assess the risk. of recurrence.
“Classic” psychiatric expertise upgraded by 18%
The Minister of Justice must detail during a trip to the judicial court, then to the Montpellier Court of Appeal, three tariff revaluation measures. The next day must begin the examination, in the law committee of the National Assembly, of its new text on criminal irresponsibility, born of the excitement caused by the lack of trial in the Sarah Halimi case. Psychiatric expertise in matters of sexual offenses will now be paid 526.5 euros against 448.5 euros, an increase of 17%. “Classic” psychiatric expertise is upgraded by 18%, from 429 to 507 euros, said the ministry. The increase in the remuneration of expert psychologists is 5% (370 to 390 euros).
These measures, which were the subject of a ministerial decree published on September 7, entered into force at the beginning of the month and only concern liberal experts (25% of psychiatric experts and 60% of psychologists). The Minister of Justice must also announce the revaluation of the compensation paid to experts summoned to appear before the assize courts, often years after their expertise, and which must increase from 43.65 to 100 euros (+ 129%) , if the measure is validated by decree of the Council of State. The overall cost of these measures is estimated by the ministry at four million euros.