France prison population hits record 89,668 amid overcrowding crisis

France has reached a new record for prison populations, with 89,668 detainees reported as of August 1. This represents a 6.5% increase compared to the previous year. The surge has exacerbated a chronic overcrowding crisis, leaving the system with a global over-occupancy rate of 141.6%.

Due to a severe shortage of beds, approximately 7,956 mattresses were placed directly on prison floors, a 43.5% increase compared to the previous year. In remand centers, where individuals await trial or serve short sentences, the density reached 175%.

The French Ministry of Justice has announced plans to create 3,000 additional spaces using modular prisons, which are intended to be faster and more cost-effective to build. The government aims to have half of these capacities operational by 2027.

However, Dominique Simonnot, the General Controller of Places of Deprivation of Liberty, warned that building new facilities may not suffice. She noted that to keep pace with the current rate of growth, the state would need to bring a new correctional center into service every six weeks.