Legal recidivism: the aggravation of repression
When an offense has been committed in a state of legal recidivism, the penalty incurred is doubled (or life for a crime punishable by twenty or thirty years of imprisonment).
- In criminal matters, the first term of the recidivism must be a misdemeanor, and the second term the same misdemeanor, or a misdemeanor assimilated by law, committed within the period of five years from the expiration or prescription of the previous sentence (article 132-10 of the Penal Code).
- In criminal matters, the first term of recidivism must be a felony or misdemeanor punishable by 10 years' imprisonment, and the second term must be a felony (article 132-8 of the Penal Code).
