The number of detainees in France continues to rise, reaching record levels every month. As of July 1, 74,513 people were incarcerated in France, compared to 73,699 the previous month, according to official figures from the Ministry of Justice published Monday, July 31. With this new unprecedented peak, France broke the record for the number of people imprisoned for the sixth time in a few months, and for the first time exceeded the bar of 74,000 prisoners.
French prisons had 814 more detainees on July 1 compared to June 1. This increase is greater than during previous records (537 detainees on June 1, 82 detainees on May 1), and there are nearly 2,500 more detainees than a year ago.
The chronic prison overcrowding had earned France, on July 6, a new condemnation from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). With 60,666 operational places in prisons on July 1, overall prison density now stands at 122.8% compared to 118.7% a year ago.
2,478 inmates sleep on a mattress on the floor
The occupancy rate is 146.3% in remand prisons, where detainees awaiting trial, and therefore presumed innocent, and those sentenced to short sentences are imprisoned. It even reaches or exceeds 200% in eight establishments, including 278.1% in Majicavo (Mayotte), 212.2% in Perpignan, 212% in Nîmes, 205.8% in Rochefort (Charente-Maritime) or even 204, 6% in Foix.
In total, 16,643 inmates are currently in excess of the places available in French prisons. Due to this overcrowding, 2,478 detainees are forced to sleep on a mattress on the floor. There were 1,872 on July 1, 2022. Among those imprisoned, 20,189 are defendants, imprisoned awaiting trial. They represent 27.1% of the total number of detainees (compared to 26.9% a year ago).
A total of 91,127 people were incarcerated on July 1, a number also on the rise. Among them, there are 16,614 people not detained subject to placement under electronic bracelet (15,781) or placement outside (833). The number of female prisoners (3.7% of the total prison population) increased slightly, while that of minors (0.8%) remained stable.
