France Sets Record with Over 80,000 Inmates in Overcrowded Prisons

French prisons now hold 80,130 inmates despite a capacity of 62,357, with overcrowding exceeding 200% in some facilities.

The inmate population in French prisons reached a record 80,130 as of November 1, far exceeding the system's official capacity of 62,357.
Overall prison density stands at 128.5%, with some facilities exceeding 200%, forcing nearly 4,000 inmates to sleep on floors.
France ranks third in Europe for prison overcrowding, behind Cyprus and Romania, according to a Council of Europe study.
Justice Minister Didier Migaud announced delays in the construction of 15,000 additional prison spaces, with only 42% expected to be ready by 2027.
Advocates and organizations are calling for systemic reforms to reduce incarceration rates and promote alternative sentencing measures.