Spaces still missing. The number of detainees in France remained practically stable on May 1, after three months of increase, exceeding the bar of 71,000 people behind bars, according to official figures published on Saturday May 28.
French prisons had 71,038 inmates on May 1, compared to 71,053 on April 1. As the country has 60,722 places in operation, the overall prison density stands at 117% against 107.5% a year ago.
The number of people incarcerated had risen above 70,000 on March 1, a threshold which had not been reached in French prisons since the start of the health crisis. Over one year, there were 5,654 more detainees, representing an 8.6% increase in the prison population.
According to statistical data from the Ministry of Justice, 13,985 detainees are currently in excess of the places available in penitentiary establishments. Prison density climbs to 138.9% in remand centers where prisoners awaiting trial – presumably innocent – and those sentenced to short sentences are imprisoned.
Forty-six French prisons have a density greater than 150%. This density even exceeds 200% in four establishments (225.4% in Bordeaux-Gradignan, 214.3% in Perpignan, 213.8% in Foix and 208% in Nîmes). They were six in this case a month ago.
Due to this overcrowding, 1,850 prisoners are forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor. They were 850 in this case on May 1, 2021. Among the detainees, 19,084 are defendants, imprisoned pending their trial.
In total, 86,855 people were placed in prison on May 1, including 15,817 non-detainees subject to placement under an electronic bracelet (15,064) or placement outside (753).
The number of women imprisoned (3.6% of the total prison population) increased slightly compared to April as compared to a year ago. That of minors imprisoned (0.8% of the total) is slightly down from April 1 and down 14.5% over one year.