Overview

• Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin unveiled an expedited plan to construct 3,000 modular prison places by 2027 or 2028, aiming to alleviate chronic overcrowding in French prisons.
• The plan includes 15 semi-liberty structures and 10 facilities for short sentences, each accommodating 1,500 inmates, with construction timelines reduced to 18 months.
• A pilot project at the Troyes-Lavau penitentiary will deliver a 50-place facility by autumn 2026, serving as a test for the modular approach.
• The initiative aims to cut construction costs per prison place from €350,000 to €200,000 by utilizing prefabricated designs inspired by Germany and England.
• Prison staff have voiced concerns about the potential for deteriorating working conditions in the new modular facilities, highlighting ongoing resistance to the plan.