Monaco has introduced plea bargaining into its criminal justice system for the first time, creating new procedures designed to resolve certain criminal cases more quickly while easing pressure on the courts.
The reform, adopted through Law No. 1.593 of 18th June 2026 and published in the latest Journal de Monaco, introduces two new legal mechanisms: plaider coupable (pleading guilty) and the convention pénale.
The changes represent one of the most significant updates to Monaco’s criminal procedure in recent years, bringing the Principality’s legal system closer to practices already used in countries including France.
A faster route for straightforward cases
Under the new legislation, prosecutors will be able to propose an agreed sentence to defendants who acknowledge the facts of certain offences. If both parties accept the proposal, it must still be reviewed and approved by a judge before becoming legally binding.
The objective is to avoid lengthy court proceedings in cases where there is little dispute over what occurred, allowing the justice system to focus more resources on complex criminal trials.
The law also creates a separate convention pénale procedure, giving prosecutors an additional negotiated resolution for eligible offences under judicial supervision.
Judicial oversight remains
Unlike informal settlements, neither procedure removes the court from the process.
A judge retains responsibility for verifying that the defendant entered the agreement freely, understood its consequences and that the proposed penalty is appropriate before giving final approval.
The reform therefore seeks to improve efficiency without reducing judicial safeguards.
Modernising Monaco’s justice system
The adoption of plea bargaining reflects a broader programme of judicial modernisation that has accelerated over recent years, with Monaco updating a number of legal procedures to improve efficiency while maintaining legal certainty.
The legislation came into force following its publication in the Journal de Monaco on 26th June.
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Photo of the court house of Monaco, credit: Cassandra Tanti
