Europe 1 with AFP // Photo credit: LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP 6:45 p.m., February 29, 2024
The number of prisoners continues to increase in France.
Plus 3,964 more incarcerations than the previous month to reach 76,258 as of February 1, a new record according to figures published this Thursday by the Ministry of Justice.
Due to prison overcrowding, more than 3,000 inmates are forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor.
The number of prisoners in France reached a new record on February 1, with 76,258 people incarcerated, i.e. 3,964 more than the previous month and an increase of 5.5% in one year, according to figures published Thursday by the Ministry of Defense. Justice.
The overall prison density stands at 123.5%
This is the highest number of prisoners ever recorded, according to prison administration statistics, with a very sharp increase in people forced to sleep on a mattress.
As of February 1, French prisons had 61,737 operational places and the overall prison density stood at 123.5%.
In remand centers, where detainees awaiting trial, and therefore presumed innocent, and those sentenced to short sentences are incarcerated, the occupancy rate is 147.7%.
It reaches or even exceeds 200% in 16 establishments or neighborhoods.
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Due to this overcrowding, 3,059 prisoners are forced to sleep on a mattress placed on the floor, or 50.2% more than a year ago.
Among those incarcerated, 20,254 are defendants, incarcerated while awaiting their judgment.
In total, 92,641 people were detained as of February 1.
Among them, there are 16,383 non-detainees placed under an electronic bracelet or placed outside.
Note an annual increase of 21.6% in the number of convicts in external placement housed (203 as of February 1).
Faced with chronic prison overcrowding, which earned France a new condemnation from the European Court of Human Rights in July, the government is counting on the construction of 15,000 new prison places by 2027.