France prison population reaches record 90,020 detainees

France has reached a record high in its prison population, with 90,020 detainees reported as of September 1. This represents a 6.8% increase over the previous year, while the number of usable prison places grew by only 1.2%, reaching 63,348.

The resulting overcrowding has led to significant logistical issues. Due to a lack of beds, more than 8,300 mattresses are being placed directly on the floor, a 51.8% increase from the previous year. In remand centers, which hold those awaiting trial or serving short sentences, density has reached 176.1%, with an overall occupancy rate of 142.1% across all facility types.

International and domestic bodies have repeatedly raised alarms regarding these conditions. The Council of Europe previously warned of a drift toward a “human warehouse,” and the General Controller of Places of Deprivation of Liberty has noted the absence of large-scale national measures to address the crisis. The French government’s current strategy involves opening 3,000 modular prison spaces, though critics point out that previous promises to add 15,000 places have seen less than one-third realized.