France, April 15 -- Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin's "useful, rapid and effective sanction" - or SURE - bill was introduced for debate in the Senate this week.

One provision expands a guilty plea procedure, which allows defendants to admit guilt, bypass a trial and negotiate a sentence directly with the prosecutor.

This fast-track process already exists for misdemeanours, and the legislation would extend it to criminal cases in order to reduce the amount of time it takes for cases to go to trial.

"Waiting six to eight years for a trial is terrible for victims," Darmanin said, in defence of the proposed legislation.

France has been criticised several times by the European Court of Human Rights for the excessive length of criminal pro...