More than 81,000 prisoners in France on February 1, new record – Liberation
The months pass, and Records people detained in France are linked. With 81,599 detainees identified on February 1, French prisons have never experienced such a high number of people imprisoned, according to figures obtained this Saturday, March 1 from the Ministry of Justice. The prison overcrowding is at the endorsement, with 130.8 % of prisons occupancy rate on February 1. This density, greater than or equal to 200 % in 18 establishments or penitentiary districts, forced 4,490 detainees to sleep on mattresses placed on the ground.
Overcrowding reaches 158.9 % in a prison, where prisoners await judgment, therefore alleged innocent, and those sentenced to short sentences are imprisoned. According to data from the ministry, 52,507 detainees were hosted on February 1 in a structure with a density greater than 120 % and 41,875 in a structure with a density greater than 150 %.
The threshold of 80,000 detainees was crossed for the first time on November 1, 2024 (80,130). He has never stopped climbing except on January 1st when there had been a slight settlement (80,669 detainees against 80,792 On December 1st). Among the people imprisoned on February 1, 21,631 are defendants, in detention pending their final judgment. A total of 98,780 people were placed under the nut on February 1. Among them, there are 17,181 people who are not detained subject to an electronic bracelet placement or a placement outside.
France is one of the bad students in Europe in terms of prison overcrowding, in third position behind Cyprus and Romania, according to a study published in June by the Council of Europe. Measures have however been taken to try to remedy this problem, such as the ban on prison sentences of less than a month, the development of sentences or the development of works of general interest.
In parallel with the creation of High security prisons For the most dangerous detainees, including drug traffickers, semi-freedom squares will be doubled by 2027, or 3,000 places, recently announced the Keeper of the Seals Gérald Darmanin. According to the ministry, « This measure will notably combine prison overcrowding and promote reintegration ».
