France's prisons hit record overcrowding as inmate numbers near 90,000
France’s prison system recorded an unprecedented occupancy rate in early August, with almost 90,000 detainees housed in facilities designed for about 63,300.
Data released by the Justice Ministry indicated that France’s prison population reached 89,668 on August 1, far exceeding the roughly 63,300 places available. This pushed the overall occupancy to a record 141.6 percent, up from 136.9 percent earlier in the year. The overcrowding compelled 7,956 detainees to sleep on mattresses placed on the floor, marking a 43.5 percent increase over the same period last year.
Facilities for those awaiting trial or serving brief sentences reported an occupancy of 175 percent. The Council of Europe previously identified France and Turkey as the most congested prisons in Europe, and U.N. torture-prevention experts have urged French authorities to address conditions they deem potentially inhumane. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin has announced plans to add 3,000 modular prison spots, with half expected to be ready by 2027, though progress on a broader 2018 initiative remains limited.
Why it matters
Overcrowded prisons raise human-rights concerns and strain the justice system.
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