It is a first in France. With the coronavirus crisis, the population in French prisons has dropped below 100%, according to Minister of Justice Nicole Belloubet. This represents 11,500 fewer detainees behind bars since March 16, but that does not mean that prison overcrowding has disappeared, warns the International Prison Observatory (OIP).
“We count 61,100 detainees, as of April 23, for 61,109 places. The population detained has thus decreased by 11,500 people since March 16, "announced to the World the Keeper of the Seals, referring to" an unprecedented situation ". "The average occupancy rate in prisons is now below 100% of capacity," she continued. Prisons have faced chronic overcrowding for years, which resulted in France being condemned by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in January.
Four readmissions
For Nicole Belloubet, "this reduction is mainly explained by the reduction in criminal activity linked to the decrease in delinquency in the context of confinement". In addition, 5,300 detainees who were "a few weeks before the end of their sentence" were released.
This early release measure, taken in order to avoid a health and safety crisis in detention, has raised strong criticism. But according to the minister, "we only have four readmissions of people who did not comply with the house arrest they had been subjected to in order to execute the end of their sentence". In this interview, Nicole Belloubet reiterates that she is "not in favor" of an amnesty law. Regarding individual encellulation, which has been enshrined in law since 1875, she believes that "this objective must be tempered".
Concern for the future
On this subject, Cécile Marcel, director of the French section of the OIP regrets with AFP "the lack of political will" while "what seemed unattainable has become achievable in a short time".
Regarding the prison occupancy rate, Cécile Marcel "welcomes an unprecedented situation" but is worried about a "spike in incarceration" when the courts resume work. "We would then have missed an unprecedented opportunity," she warns.
It also underlines “an inequality” between the establishments on the occupancy rates. In remand centers, where prisoners on remand and short terms are imprisoned, "we still see detainees three per cell". The OIP cites the case of several remand centers in Ile-de-France, including Villepinte where the occupancy rate is 143% or Meaux (157%) on April 27. According to the Chancellery, the occupancy rate in remand prison on April 23 was 113% on average against 140% on March 16.
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