the number of detainees increased slightly in March, with 72,351 people incarcerated

A prison density of 118.7%, against 115.9% a year ago. The number of detainees in French prisons rose very slightly, with 72,351 people incarcerated on March 1, according to data from the Ministry of Justice published on Wednesday March 29. This is a slight increase following that recorded on February 1 (72,294 detainees), not far from the historic high recorded on December 1 with 72,836 prisoners.

French penitentiary establishments thus had, on March 1, 72,351 prisoners for 60,949 operational places. The occupancy rate is 140.7% in remand prisons, where prisoners awaiting trial and those sentenced to short sentences are imprisoned.

In total, 58 prisons have a density greater than 150%. This occupancy rate reaches or even exceeds 200% in six establishments. Due to this overcrowding, 2,026 detainees are forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor.

As of March 1, 88,183 people were in prison, a number also up from the previous month. Among them, there are 15,832 non-detainees subject to placement under electronic bracelets or outside placement.