The number of detainees in France is approaching its historic high with 72,350 people incarcerated on October 1, against 71,669 the previous month, according to statistical data from the Ministry of Justice published on Monday. 72,350 detainees in France for 60,709 operational places, i.e. a prison density of 119.2% against 114.5% a year ago. These figures are almost at the level of the absolute record recorded in March 2020 (72,575 detainees), on the eve of the confinement decided to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and which had led to a drastic drop in the number of prisoners. The Nîmes remand center is one of the three establishments where this occupancy rate is the densest in France.
+ 200% in Nîmes, Bordeaux and Carcassonne
According to official figures from the ministry, 14,937 detainees are currently in excess of the places available in penitentiary establishments. Prison density stands at 141.5% in remand centers, where prisoners awaiting trial – and therefore presumed innocent – and those sentenced to short sentences are imprisoned.
Fifty-seven French prisons have a density greater than 150%. This density even exceeds 200% in three establishments: 220.3% in Carcassonne, 215% in Nîmes and 207.7% in Bordeaux-Gradignan. Because of this overcrowding, 2,053 prisoners in France are forced to sleep on mattresses placed on the floor.
Among the detainees, 19,372 are defendants, imprisoned awaiting trial.
In total, 86,998 people were placed in prison on October 1, including 14,648 non-detainees subject to placement under an electronic bracelet (13,940) or placement outside (708), figures up on a year.
the number of women imprisoned (3.4% of the total prison population) is down slightly, just like that of minors (0.8%).