Severe overcrowding reported in French prisons

Official data from the French Ministry of Justice as of June 1, 2026, reveals that the country's prison population has reached 88,829 inmates. This represents a 5.2% annual increase, while operational capacity grew by only 1.1% to 63,237 spaces. Consequently, 7,608 inmates are forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor or temporary cots, a 32.1% increase compared to the previous year. Remand centers, housing those awaiting trial or serving short sentences, face an average occupancy rate of 173.2%, with the total national average overcrowding reaching 140.5%. Flavy Raoult, secretary general of the National Union of Prison Directors (SNDP-CFDT), stated that the system is near collapse and that overcrowding hinders staff from performing their duties effectively. France currently ranks among the European nations with the highest levels of prison overcrowding. The Council of Europe previously issued warnings regarding these conditions in late January.