Launched in 2017 by Emmanuel Macron, this plan provided for the construction of 15,000 new prison places in order to limit prison overcrowding, which has been chronic in France for years.
The objective of building 15,000 additional prison places by 2027 will not be achieved, Minister of Justice Didier Migaud announced on Sunday. “There are projects that are completely blocked”conceded the Minister of Justice, guest of France Inter, France Télévision and Monde. Launched in 2017 by Emmanuel Macron, this plan provided for the construction of 15,000 new prison places in order to limit prison overcrowding, which has been chronic in France for years. But this plan is seriously delayed with only 4,500 new places delivered, according to the chancellery.
A delay which would not be due so much to a lack of credits, as to “land difficulties” and to “opposition from elected officials”to see closed educational centers or semi-liberty centers built on their territory, according to the Minister of Justice. “I will make proposals to the Prime Minister so that we can partly make up for this delay but we will not make up for it by 2027” declared Didier Migaud, announcing the establishment of a “operation truth” on the 15,000 plan.
The minister also declared that he would make proposals to Parliament to be able to use “exceptional procedures” in order to overcome local opposition, “when it comes to establishments of national interest”. As of October 1, 2024, the number of prisoners in France reached a new record with 79,631 people incarcerated compared to 78,969 the previous month with a prison density of 127.9%. France is among the worst performers 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.
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