Too dilapidated, the old 19th century prison will close its doors for good

A page in prison history is turning in Mulhouse (Haut-Rhin). In a country often singled out for the dilapidation of its prisons and its prison overcrowding, the dilapidated 19th century prison, with its heavy wooden doors from another time, will close definitively within a few days. With satisfaction for the prisoners, but also a heartache for the prison staff. “The establishment is really out of breath,” recognizes Patrice Bourdaret, the head of the establishment of this remand center built in 1865.

The 350 inmates, convicted or awaiting trial, will be transferred to the brand new prison in Lutterbach, barely ten kilometers away. For security reasons, the date of the transfer has been omitted. But November 10 will mark the official closure, said Hubert Moreau interregional director of penitentiary services in the Grand Est.

Up to more than 400 inmates

Four months after the closure of the Colmar prison, which was even older, “we could not continue to welcome people detained in such conditions and impose such degraded working conditions on the staff”, underlined Hubert Moreau. The building, which accommodated up to more than 400 detainees, or an occupancy rate of 170%, will therefore only be empty in two weeks, despite the impatience of the prisoners. In the new penitentiary establishment, “It’s new, it’s more comfortable and there will be a shower in the cell and hot water”, rejoices a prisoner, whose cell of 9 m2 has only toilets, a small sink and cold water.

The history of Mulhouse prison has been marked by a violent mutiny in 1992 and the health crisis, when the city was at the heart of the beginnings of the Covid-19 epidemic. The future of the building, a short walk from the historic city center, has not yet been decided.

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