Testing Two Models of Justice

Based on two empirical studies, one about public prosecution and the other about juvenile judges, this paper compares two “models” of justice. Management exerts increasing influence on courts and the two systems have responded to this pressure in different ways. The prosecution offices have partially abandoned some ideals of justice in order to pursue efficiency, whereas juvenile courts have tried to fight these changes. Other than simply pointing out the difference between the two systems, this paper assesses the impact of the reforms that have transformed the French justice system over the last 20 years.