new record for prisoners in France on September 1, 2024, 78,969 people in prison

Prison overcrowding at its highest. The number of prisoners in France reached a new record on September 1, with 78,969 people incarcerated compared to 78,397 the previous month, according to figures from the Ministry of Justice published on Monday.

The figures had experienced a slight decline on August 1 after ten months of increase, a usual decline due to the reduction in judicial activity in summer. The previous record for inmates was 78,509 as of July 1.

As of September 1, 3,609 prisoners were forced to sleep on a mattress placed on the floor, compared to 2,361 a year earlier, and French prisons had 62,014 operational places.

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The overall prison density stands at 127.3% but in remand centers, where prisoners awaiting trial and therefore presumed innocent, and those sentenced to short sentences are incarcerated, it reaches 153.6%. It reaches or even exceeds 200% in 17 establishments or districts.

Among those incarcerated, 20,563 are defendants, in detention awaiting their final judgment.

In total, 94,906 people were detained as of September 1. Among them, there are 15,937 non-detainees placed under an electronic bracelet or placed outside.

Chronic prison overcrowding

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.

However, measures have been taken to try to remedy this problem, such as the ban on prison sentences of less than one month, the adjustment of sentences and the development of community service. But these prove insufficient.

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The previous executive also counted on the construction of 18,000 prison places by 2027 to increase the capacity to 78,000 operational places. Apart from the fact that this objective has fallen seriously behind schedule and already seems obsolete given the situation, many actors and observers believe that this will not resolve the problem.