The rise continues.
The number of people incarcerated in French prisons increased again in May, to stand at 66,591 detainees on June 1, according to statistical data from the Ministry of Justice consulted this Sunday by AFP, for 60,794 operational places .
As of May 1, France had 65,384 prisoners, which represents an increase of 1.8% in one month.
In one year, the prison population has increased by 14.6%.
Among those incarcerated, 28.8% (or 19,168) are defendants detained pending trial.
The number of juvenile detainees is increasing very slightly (+ 0.1%), with 779 on June 1 against 776 a month ago.
They represent 1.2% of the total prison population.
The proportion of women prisoners (3.3%) also remains stable.
The problem of overpopulation
While the number of prisoners is increasing, this is not the case with places. Prison density in the 188 penitentiary establishments in mainland France and overseas therefore now stands at 109.5% against 108% on May 1. It is on average 128.6% in remand centers, where detainees awaiting trial and those sentenced to short sentences are held. In places, this figure is exploding. The prison density reaches for example 210.3% in La Roche-sur-Yon or 200% in Tarbes. As of June 1, 908 detainees were forced to make do with a mattress placed on the floor.
Prison overcrowding is regularly identified in France.
In January 2020, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) had thus condemned the country for the conditions of detention in overcrowded prisons, recommending that measures be taken to address this “structural problem”.
The coronavirus epidemic had drastically dropped the prison population: due to fewer entries into detention and early release measures, the average prison occupancy rate had fallen below the 100% threshold in spring 2020.
But since September 2020 and the resumption of full judicial activity, the number of detainees has continued to climb.
If Emmanuel Macron had announced a plan to increase prison places in 2018, the first will not be ready for delivery until 2022.
