Prisons had 61,767 operational places on January 1. The overall prison density is therefore 122.9%, and it reaches or even exceeds 200% in certain establishments.
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This is a new record. The number of prisoners in France reached 75,897 people incarcerated on January 1, according to figures published by the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday January 31. These data show an increase of 0.3% in one month, and 5.2% in one year. Among those incarcerated, 19,936 are incarcerated while awaiting trial.
Faced with this increase, the number of operational places is also increasing, but only slightly. As of January 1, French prisons had 61,767 (+1.8% in one year), representing an overall prison density of 122.9%. The occupancy rate is 147.6% in remand centers, where presumed innocent detainees awaiting trial and those sentenced to short sentences are incarcerated. It reaches or even exceeds 200% in 14 establishments.
France condemned by the European Court of Human Rights
Due to this prison overcrowding, 2,840 prisoners are forced to sleep on a mattress placed on the floor, or 36.5% more than a year ago. Faced with chronic prison overcrowding, which earned France a new condemnation from the European Court of Human Rights in July, the government is counting on the construction of 15,000 new prison places by 2027.
In total, 91,647 people were detained as of December 1. Among them, there are 15,750 non-detainees placed under an electronic bracelet or placed outside. The proportion of women imprisoned (3.7% of the total prison population) and minors (1%) remains almost stable.
