Submitting an application for clemency

Persons sentenced by Luxembourg judicial authorities to imprisonment or other penalties (for example a driving ban or a fine) may submit an application for clemency to His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

The purpose of the application for clemency is to request the lifting, reduction or adjustment of a sentence.

Who is concerned

Any resident or non-resident who has been sentenced by the Luxembourg criminal courts to imprisonment or another penalty (e.g. a driving ban, fine, a ban on holding public office or working in the civil service, a ban on opening or working at a drinking establishment) may submit an application for clemency.

How to proceed

Filing an application

Form of the application

The applicant must draft a document containing the following information:

  • their identity (surname, given name(s), date and place of birth);
  • their address;
  • the court which passed the judgment to which the application for clemency pertains;
  • the date when the judgment was handed down;
  • the offence committed and the sentence pronounced;
  • the reasons for the application for clemency;
  • their signature.

The form of the written application is open, but a template for application for clemency is available.

Applicants are advised to attach any supporting documentation to the application for clemency for the lifting, reduction or adjustment of a sentence.

For example, in the case of a driving ban, an employer's statement that their employee must hold a driving licence may be considered supporting documentation.

Procedure

The application for clemency must be sent to:

If the application is sent to the applicant's lawyers or the Ministry of Justice, it will be transferred to the Clemency Department of the Public Prosecutor's office, which will compile the full dossier, and:

  • verify the applicant's address in the National Registry of Natural Persons (Registre national des personnes physiques);
  • request their criminal record from the Criminal Records Department (Service du casier judiciaire);
  • obtain information from the driving ban department on the applicant's compliance with the ban, if necessary.
The applicant seeking clemency must pay the legal fees (fees vary depending on the case in question) for the application to be admitted.

The case file will then be sent for assessment:

  • to the General Directorate of the Grand Ducal Police (Direction générale de la Police Grand-Ducale), which will forward it to the appropriate local commissary commissariat de proximité;
  • to the Social Defence Commission (Commission de défense sociale) for clemency applications for imprisonment if the applicant is in detention in a penitentiary; or
  • to the Central Social Assistance Service (Service central d’assistance sociale) if the applicant lives abroad or for any other special request.

If the applicant lives in the Diekirch district and the sentence for which they wish to apply for clemency was handed down by the Diekirch district courts, the full dossier will also be provided to the Diekirch Public Prosecutor for assessment.


After the Clemency Department receives the relevant assessments, the entire case will be submitted to the Clemency Commission, which generally meets twice per month, except during the month of August.

Application processing and notification

The Clemency Commission will analyse the application and all supporting documents provided by the applicant.

The Commission will take into account the different opinions obtained from the other departments, and make a ruling based on the following, in particular:

  • the seriousness of the offence committed for which the application is submitted;

  • the applicant's criminal record;

  • their current behaviour.

As regards driving bans, the applicant's need to hold a driving licence will be taken into account.

The day after the Clemency Commission meets, its ruling will be sent to the Ministry of Justice, which will forward it to the Office of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke.

His Royal Highness the Grand Duke will make his decision, and then the Office will send the Grand Ducal order, including that decision, to the Ministry of Justice.

The Ministry will then inform the applicant of the decision of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke by post, and send the Grand Ducal order to the Public Prosecutor and to the Director of the Luxembourg Land Registration and Estates Department (Administration de l'enregistrement, des domaines et de la TVA) for recording and execution of the decision of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke.

The full process of review of an application for clemency will take approximately three months. In case of a request for an extension of the lifting of a driving ban granted on a trial basis by His Royal Highness the Grand Duke, this request will take approximately two months to review.

Forms / Online services

Modèle de demande en grâce

Les informations qui vous concernent recueillies sur ce formulaire font l’objet d’un traitement par l’administration concernée afin de mener à bien votre demande.

Ces informations sont conservées pour la durée nécessaire par l’administration à la réalisation de la finalité du traitement

Les destinataires de vos données sont les administrations compétentes dans le cadre du traitement de votre demande. Veuillez-vous adresser à l’administration concernée par votre demande pour connaître les destinataires des données figurant sur ce formulaire. Conformément au règlement (UE) 2016/679 relatif à la protection des personnes physiques à l'égard du traitement des données à caractère personnel et à la libre circulation de ces données, vous bénéficiez d’un droit d’accès, de rectification et le cas échéant d’effacement des informations vous concernant. Vous disposez également du droit de retirer votre consentement à tout moment.

En outre et excepté le cas où le traitement de vos données présente un caractère obligatoire, vous pouvez, pour des motifs légitimes, vous y opposer.

Si vous souhaitez exercer ces droits et/ou obtenir communication de vos informations, veuillez-vous adresser à l’administration concernée suivant les coordonnées indiquées dans le formulaire. Vous avez également la possibilité d’introduire une réclamation auprès de la Commission nationale pour la protection des données ayant son siège à 15, boulevard du Jazz L-4370 Belvaux.

En poursuivant votre démarche, vous acceptez que vos données personnelles soient traitées dans le cadre de votre demande.

Antrag auf Begnadigung

Ihre in diesem Formular erfassten personenbezogenen Informationen werden von der zuständigen Verwaltungsbehörde verarbeitet, um Ihren Antrag erfolgreich abzuschließen.

Diese Informationen werden von der Behörde für den zur Verarbeitung erforderlichen Zeitraum gespeichert.

Die Empfänger Ihrer Daten sind die im Rahmen Ihres Antrags zuständigen Verwaltungsbehörden. Um die Empfänger der in diesem Formular erfassten Daten zu erfahren, wenden Sie sich bitte an die für Ihren Antrag zuständige Behörde.

Gemäß der Verordnung (EU) 2016/679 zum Schutz natürlicher Personen bei der Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten und zum freien Datenverkehr haben Sie das Recht auf Zugang, Berichtigung und gegebenenfalls Löschung Ihrer personenbezogenen Informationen. Sie haben zudem das Recht, Ihre erteilte Einwilligung jederzeit zu widerrufen.

Weiterhin können Sie, außer in Fällen, in denen die Verarbeitung Ihrer Daten verpflichtend ist, Widerspruch einlegen, wenn dieser rechtmäßig begründet ist.

Wenn Sie diese Rechte ausüben und/oder Einsicht in Ihre Informationen nehmen möchten, können Sie sich unter den im Formular angegebenen Kontaktdaten an die zuständige Verwaltungsbehörde wenden. Sie haben außerdem die Möglichkeit, bei der Nationalen Kommission für den Datenschutz Beschwerde einzulegen (Commission nationale pour la protection des données, 15, boulevard du Jazz L-4370 Belvaux).

Wenn Sie Ihren Vorgang fortsetzen, akzeptieren Sie damit, dass Ihre personenbezogenen Daten im Rahmen Ihres Antrags verarbeitet werden.

Who to contact

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