New proof of prison overcrowding.
The number of prisoners in France reached a new record on February 1, with 76,258 people incarcerated, or 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 Justice.
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%.
Mattress on the floor
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 districts.
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 trial.
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).
Also read: Bois-d'Arcy prison, a glaring example of dilapidation and prison overcrowding
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.