French prisons hit record overcrowding, 173% capacity

Official Justice Ministry statistics show that on 1 June 2026 French prisons held 88,829 detainees, while the number of operational places was only 63,237. Overall occupancy reached 140.5 % and rose to 173.2 % in pre‑trial facilities, where short‑sentence inmates and those awaiting trial are held. The detainee count grew 5.2 % year‑on‑year, adding about 4,400 people, and the number sleeping on mattresses on the floor increased by 32.1 % to 7,608.

Prison officials and the National Union of Prison Directors warn that the system is on the brink of collapse, saying staff cannot safely manage such crowds. The Council of Europe has urged France to act, warning that the prisons risk becoming “human warehouses.” France now ranks among the worst‑performing European countries in prison overcrowding.