PARIS: The prison system in France is grappling with severe overcrowding, with recent data revealing that facilities are operating at nearly 130% capacity. The latest figures underscore the urgency of addressing the dire conditions within the nation’s correctional facilities.
According to Anadolu Agency, the occupancy rate in French prisons climbed to 129.5% as of December, with nearly 81,000 individuals detained in spaces designed to accommodate only 62,000. This alarming statistic highlights the chronic overcrowding issues facing the country’s penal institutions, with 15 facilities reporting occupancy rates approaching 200%. Such conditions have forced more than 4,000 inmates to sleep on mattresses laid directly on the floor, exacerbating concerns over living conditions and human rights.
In response to the overcrowding crisis, Gerald Darmanin, recently appointed as the Minister of Justice in the Francois Bayrou government, announced forthcoming reforms aimed at alleviating the situation. Darmanin plans to tackle the issue by constructing new local prisons specifically for individuals serving short-term sentences, a move intended to ease the burden on existing facilities and improve conditions for detainees.
The French government’s efforts to address prison overcrowding come amid growing scrutiny from human rights organizations and the public. As the situation continues to escalate, the effectiveness of these proposed reforms remains to be seen, as stakeholders await tangible improvements in the nation’s correctional system.