Government measures to unclog prisons to limit the risk of a spread of the coronavirus epidemic are "not up to the task" of the crisis, deplores prison authority Adeline Hazan on Monday. Since their detention three weeks ago, French prisons have 6,266 fewer prisoners. Deeming this number "insufficient", the general controller of places of deprivation and liberty (CGLPL) calls for the early releases of "at least 7,000 additional detainees" to avoid a health disaster.
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"There were 72,575 detainees on March 16 for some 61,000 operational places, but in reality it is rather 55,000 places that are usable," warns Adeline Hazan, according to whom "this level of overcrowding has never been reached". In jails, on January 1, there were 13,705 detainees in excess, who often share three of the 9 m2 cells, "she still regrets.
"It is therefore at least 13,000 detainees that must be released, or even 15 or 16,000," pleads Adeline Hazan, "this is the only way to limit the spread of the epidemic".
Government measures "insufficient"
For the prison controller, the measures announced by the Keeper of the Seals Nicole Belloubet, "if they go in the right direction", are "insufficient, in addition to being late, because they only facilitate the early releases of detainees who are two months from the end of their sentence. " "From the start, we had to plan to release the detainees who are six months or less from their end of sentence," says Adeline Hazan.
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In view of the "exceptional" situation, you must have the "courage to take exceptional measures", insists Adeline Hazan. "This is why I proposed individual graces to be multiplied, or even an amnesty law. Just by releasing those who are less than six months from the end of their sentence, we would be grazing the 10,000 prisoners less", she continues