Almost month after month, the record falls sadly. According to figures from the Ministry of Justice published on Monday, September 30, the number of prisoners in France reached a new high on 1Ahem September, with 78,969 people imprisoned compared to 78,397 the previous month.
The figures had experienced a slight decrease on 1Ahem August after ten months of increase, a usual decrease due to the reduction in judicial activity in summer. The previous record number of inmates was 78,509 on 1Ahem July.
at 1Ahem In September, 3,609 prisoners were forced to sleep on a mattress placed on the floor, compared to 2,361 the previous year, and French prisons had 62,014 operational beds. Therefore, the global prison density stands at 127.3%.
In preventive detention centers where prisoners awaiting trial – therefore presumed innocent – and those sentenced to short sentences are imprisoned, it reaches 153.6%. It reaches or even exceeds 200% in seventeen establishments or neighborhoods. Among those imprisoned, 20,563 are accused, detained awaiting a final sentence.
France, a bad student in Europe
In total, 94,906 people were imprisoned on 1Ahem September. Among them, there are 15,937 non-detainees placed under an electronic bracelet or placed outside.
France is among the countries in Europe with the worst results in terms of prison overcrowding, in third position behind Cyprus and Romania, according to a study published in June by the Council of Europe. However, measures have been taken to try to remedy this problem, such as the prohibition of prison sentences of less than one month, the adjustment of sentences and the development of community service. But these are insufficient.
The previous executive also planned to build 18,000 prison places by 2027 to increase capacity to 78,000 operational places. Apart from the fact that this goal is long overdue and already seems obsolete given the situation, many actors and observers believe that this will not solve the problem.
