Overview

• Dominique Simonnot, the French prison watchdog, criticized the blanket ban on mobile phones in prisons, calling it 'unrealistic' given their widespread use.
• Simonnot urged the Justice Ministry to ensure unrestricted access to fixed telephones for all detainees, regardless of their detention regime, to maintain family ties and access legal rights.
• The watchdog highlighted that while fixed phones have been installed in cells since 2019, many inmates, particularly those under disciplinary action, face limited access.
• Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin reaffirmed his commitment to eradicating mobile phones from prisons, citing their misuse for criminal activities, though he acknowledged the outdated and costly nature of current communication systems.
• The watchdog also proposed exploring controlled access to mobile phones in prisons and reducing the high cost of inmate phone calls to align with market rates.