délit

civil law

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June 25, 2026

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In civil law systems derived from Roman law, a delict refers to a wrong that creates an obligation to pay a penalty. This concept is similar to a tort in Anglo-American law.1

In French law, offenses are classified into three categories:
* Crimes: The most serious offenses, punishable by death or long imprisonment.2
* Délits: Offenses punishable by a short prison sentence (one to five years) or a fine.2
* Contraventions: Minor offenses.2

Historically, Roman law recognized four main types of delict: theft (furtum), robbery (rapina), injury (injuria), and loss caused by damage to property (damnum injuria datum). The law evolved from private vengeance to state-insisted compensation for wrongs.1

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crime, délit, and contravention
délit, and contravention, three classifications of criminal offense that are central to the administration of justice in many Roman- and civil-law countries (for distinctions in Anglo-American law covering analogous offenses, see felony and misdemeanour). Crimes in French law are the most serious offenses, punishable by…
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délit, and contravention, three classifications of criminal offense that are central to the administration of justice in many Roman- and civil-law countries (for distinctions in Anglo-American law covering analogous offenses, see felony and misdemeanour). Crimes in French law are the most serious offenses, punishable by…
Read More

crime
Classification of crimes
…distinguished between three categories: crime, délit, and contravention. Under this classification, a crime represented the most serious offense and thus was subject to the most-severe penalty permissible. Délits were subject to only minor prison sentences, and contraventions were minor offenses. Beginning in the 19th century, some civil-law countries (e.g., Sweden,…
Read More
…distinguished between three categories: crime, délit, and contravention. Under this classification, a crime represented the most serious offense and thus was subject to the most-severe penalty permissible. Délits were subject to only minor prison sentences, and contraventions were minor offenses. Beginning in the 19th century, some civil-law countries (e.g., Sweden,…
Read More