Prison overcrowding: as of October 1st, the number of inmates in French prisons reaches 90,937, unprecedented

As of October 1, French prisons housed 90,937 inmates, marking a record high amid chronic overcrowding. The inmate population rose by 7.2% from the previous year, while operational capacity increased by only 1.5%, leading to 8,959 mattresses on the floor due to lack of beds. The prison density reached 178% in remand centers, with an overall overcrowding rate of 143.3%. The Council of Europe criticized the conditions in French prisons, highlighting overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and violence. Dominique Simonnot, in her final report, described the situation as a 'penitentiary catastrophe' and called for significant national measures to address the issue. The Justice Ministry plans to add 3,000 modular prison places, with the first facility expected to open in Troyes by the end of autumn. However, only 8,000 of the 15,000 additional places promised since 2018 have been completed, leaving France with the worst prison density in Europe, alongside Turkey.