France’s jails hit breaking point as inmate numbers soar past capacity

France's situation colonisation reached a caller precocious connected May 1, with 83,681 inmates housed successful facilities designed for lone 62,570, according to information released by the justness ministry connected Saturday.In the past twelvemonth alone, the fig of inmates successful France has accrued by 6,000, pushing the nationalist occupancy complaint to 133.7 percent.This unprecedented overcrowding has resulted successful 23 of France's 186 detention centers operating astatine much than treble their intended capacity.Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, who has described the concern arsenic "unacceptable," has projected the operation of further facilities to code the surge successful inmate numbers.In mid-May, the curate unveiled plans for a caller high-security situation successful French Guiana — the overseas territory northbound of Brazil — intended for the astir "dangerous" offenders, including cause lords."Prison overcrowding is atrocious for perfectly everyone," Darmanin said successful precocious April, referencing the "appalling conditions" endured by inmates and "the insecurity and violence" experienced by situation staff.April besides witnessed a bid of coordinated attacks connected French prisons, with perpetrators mounting cars ablaze, riddling a situation entranceway with automatic gunfire, and leaving cryptic markings.

The incidents embarrassed the government, peculiarly its hardline figures similar Darmanin and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who person pledged to intensify efforts against narcotics.Later that month, lawmakers passed a sweeping caller measure targeting drug-related crime, which volition spot immoderate of the country's astir unsafe traffickers placed successful high-security situation units.A Council of Europe study published successful June 2024 ranked France arsenic 1 of the worst offenders successful Europe for situation overcrowding, placing it 3rd down Cyprus and Romania.