L'influence de l'expertise psychiatrique sur la décision judiciaire : le cas des néonaticides

In none of these cases of neonaticide the criminal irresponsibility is retained in contrast with other European situations as Finland or England. In 11 cases, a diminished criminal responsibility is retained, this allows certain reduction of sentence without excluding however custodial sentences. The examined judgements appear to vary a lot which makes the French situation different from States having a specific legislation for the neonaticide but close to certain States of the United States.