The number of detainees in French prisons rose very slightly with 72,351 people incarcerated on March 1, according to data from the Ministry of Justice published on Wednesday.
A slight increase which follows that recorded on February 1 (72,294), not far from the historic high recorded on December 1 with 72,836 prisoners.
On March 1, French prison establishments had 72,351 inmates for 60,949 operational places, i.e. an overall prison density of 118.7%, against 115.9% a year ago, according to ministry statistics.
This occupancy rate is 140.7% in remand centers, where prisoners awaiting trial – and therefore presumed innocent – and those sentenced to short sentences are imprisoned.
Fifty-eight prisons have a density above 150%. This occupancy rate reaches or even exceeds 200% in six establishments: 241.2% in Majicavo (Mayotte), 206.6% in Bordeaux-Gradignan and 215.6% in Carcassonne, 209.2% in Foix, 201% in Perpignan and 200% in Nîmes.
Nearly 15,000 detainees are currently in excess of the places available in penitentiary establishments.
Due to this overcrowding, 2,026 are forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor.
Among the detainees, 19,407 are defendants, imprisoned awaiting trial.
A total of 88,183 people were in prison as of March 1, a number also up from the previous month. Among them, there are 15,832 non-detainees subject to placement under an electronic bracelet (15,098) or placement outside (734).
The number of female prisoners (3.7% of the total prison population) and that of minors (0.8%) are stable.
The chronic overcrowding of its prisons earned France a “historic” condemnation three years ago by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
To remedy these record occupancy rates, the government is counting on the construction of new prison places and on the effects to be expected from the extension of release under duress, which since January 1st allows the early release of detainees. sentenced to less than two years in prison and who have less than three months left to serve.