Prison overcrowding: French prisons reach a new record with 88.654 inmates

French prisons held 88.654 inmates as of May 1, 2026, an unprecedented level, according to the latest data published by the Ministry of Justice. In one year, the prison population increased by nearly 5.000 people (+5,9%), while the number of available places rose by only 1,2%. The overall occupancy rate of prison facilities has now reached 140%, confirming a situation of chronic overcrowding regularly denounced by professionals in the sector.

The situation is particularly critical in remand prisons, which house people awaiting trial as well as those serving short sentences. Their occupancy rate reaches 172,6%, while 33 facilities have an occupancy rate exceeding 200%, meaning more than two inmates for every available space. In some regions, notably Île-de-France, the Toulouse area, and overseas territories, the pressure is even greater.

Thousands of prisoners without beds

Another worrying indicator: the number of mattresses placed on the floor in cells continues to rise. As of May 1st, 7.693 inmates were sleeping without a bed, a 47% increase in one year. This deterioration in prison conditions is fueling criticism from professional organizations and European bodies. At the beginning of the year, the Council of Europe, in particular, warned of the risk of French prisons becoming "human warehouses," highlighting overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and violence.

Faced with this crisis, the government is preparing a bill aimed at combating prison overcrowding and ending the practice of sleeping on mattresses on the floor. However, the Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, is ruling out any regulation of prison admissions based on the German model. The Ministry of Justice also plans to open 3.000 additional places in modular facilities by 2027, while the national program to create 15.000 prison places, launched in 2018, is still significantly behind schedule.