France’s prison system is facing an unprecedented crisis, with the inmate population reaching a record high of 83,681 as of May 1, according to data released by the Justice Ministry on Saturday. This far exceeds the official capacity of 62,570, pushing the national occupancy rate to a staggering 133.7 percent.
The situation has worsened significantly over the past year, with an increase of 6,000 inmates. Notably, 23 out of the country’s 186 detention centers are now operating at more than double their intended capacity.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has called the conditions “unacceptable” and is advocating for the construction of new correctional facilities.
As part of this initiative, Darmanin announced plans in mid-May to build a high-security prison in French Guiana an overseas territory in South America to house some of the country’s most dangerous offenders, including top drug traffickers.
“Prison overcrowding is bad for absolutely everyone,” Darmanin said in April, pointing to “appalling conditions” for inmates and heightened risks of “insecurity and violence” for prison staff.
The prison crisis comes on the heels of coordinated attacks on several French prisons in April. Incidents included arson, gunfire at facility entrances, and cryptic graffiti events that embarrassed the government and intensified its resolve to crack down on organized crime.
In response, lawmakers in late April passed a new law targeting drug-related crime, paving the way for stricter incarceration measures. Some of France’s most dangerous drug lords are expected to be transferred to high-security units in the near future.
According to a Council of Europe report published in June 2024, France ranks as the third most overcrowded prison system in Europe, trailing only Cyprus and Romania.
