Stages of the proceedings

Entrance of the accused

The accused enters through a door leading directly to the dock, accompanied and guarded by officers of the law. However, if the accused is not being held in custody – en comparution libre (voluntary appearance) or liberté provisoire (on bail) – they are not placed in the dock, nor escorted by officers.
When the accused is in custody but refuses to appear, they may be brought by force or stay in the souricière (literally ‘mousetrap’). This is a waiting area under the management of the penal administration, where those who have come from the local prison wait for their hearing.