The prisons are full to the brim. According to the latest data published Thursday by the Ministry of Justice, the prison population reached a new record on November 1 with more than 75,000 people incarcerated (75,130 exactly), the highest figure of prisoners ever recorded according to statistics from the penitentiary Administration.
As of November 1, French prisons had only 60,975 operational places. The overall prison density stands at 123.2% compared to 120% a year ago. In remand centers, where detainees awaiting trial, and therefore presumed innocent, and those sentenced to short sentences are incarcerated, the occupancy rate is 147.6%. It reaches or even exceeds 200% in ten establishments.
17,064 excess people
In total, 17,064 detained people are currently in excess of the places available in French prisons. Due to this overcrowding, 2,668 detainees are forced to sleep on a mattress placed on the floor. There were 2,225 in this case a year ago. Among those incarcerated, 19,885 are defendants, incarcerated while awaiting their judgment. They represent 26.5% of the total number of prisoners.
In total, 90,817 people were detained as of November 1. Among them, there are 15,687 non-detainees placed under an electronic bracelet or placed outside. The number of women imprisoned (3.7% of the total prison population) and minors (0.9%) remains almost stable. 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.