Numerous recent cases have drawn media and public attention to the plight of children in the care of child protection services. I am thinking of 17-year-old Louis, who was beaten to death while living in a group home in Narbonne. Press reports indicate that his parents had asked for help; the response? Placement in a group home. Reports also state that Louis had been diagnosed with ADHD and had repeatedly complained of physical abuse by other teenagers at the facility. It is tragic.
The response? The Law of July 13, 2026 (No. 2026-630), aimed at ensuring every child's right to be assisted by a lawyer in the context of educational assistance and child protection measures, was promulgated (taking effect on January 6, 2027).
Naturally, the big question will be its implementation.
Examples of issues to monitor: the timeframe for appointing a lawyer and the conditions for accessing the case file at the juvenile court (not all jurisdictions are currently able to transmit the file electronically).
