Fresnes, October 17, 2018. A 74-year-old inmate died of coronavirus in Fresnes prison. – Philippe LOPEZ / AFP
- Last Tuesday, in the columns of “20 Minutes”, Nicole Belloubet indicated that she was not “in the optics” of releasing detainees because of the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
- Wednesday, however, she must present orders to the Council of Ministers easing the conditions of early release due to the health situation.
- In the space of five days, the number of prisoners and prison staff who may have been infected increased by almost 500%.
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It was just a week ago. It was another time … Asked by 20 minutes last Tuesday, Nicole Belloubet, Minister of Justice, said that she was “not at all in the plan” to allow the release of the least dangerous prisoners in order to limit the risk
spread of coronavirus in 188 French penal establishments.
180 degree turn. On Wednesday, it will present to the Council of Ministers a series of orders easing the conditions of early release and the granting of credits for reduction of sentences due to the health situation. They should be published from Thursday to Official newspaper. It must be said that since then
Covid-19 began to spread behind bars, as everyone feared.
From 157 patients to March 18 (6 confirmed positive cases and 151 suspects), the counter rose, on Monday, to… 920 cases (16 positive cases among prison staff, 6 among prisoners including one deceased and 899 suspects). An increase of 486% in five days, according to information gathered by 20 minutes from several concordant sources.
[Interview[Interview@20 minutes] #Coronavirus #Jail “We are going to distribute 100,000 masks in prison”, announces Nicole #Belloubet, to reassure prison guards.https://t.co/4Q9LZwxHjU
– Vincent Vantighem (@vvantighem) March 17, 2020
Around 5,000 prisoners could benefit from the measure
Nicole Belloubet said on Monday evening at a meeting with the unions that she was going to let go. In fact, detainees who were to be released in the coming months will be able to leave prisons faster. And those who stand on their feet will benefit additional sentence reduction credits. A good way to contain the mutinies that are multiplying everywhere
since the announcement of the suspension of family visiting rooms to avoid contamination.
The Chancellery has not done a specific study. But the measure is likely to result in the release of around 5,000 prisoners convicted of minor crimes (those who have been convicted in matters of morals, criminal or terrorists, etc. are excluded) “It is a first step,” rejoices Christopher Dorangeville , secretary general of the CGT Penitentiary. We were still at 61,000 places for 70,000 prisoners. “
The 100,000 masks promised are slow to arrive
Difficult under these conditions to maintain a sanitary cordon around each suspected case. The doctrine is to isolate the smallest detainee who has symptoms in a cell and to protect prison staff. But in reality, it is much more complicated. The 100,000 masks promised by the ministry last Tuesday are only being shipped to prisons. “For now, the supervisors are asked to wear a mask only when faced with suspicious cases,” said the union official. And so, the detainees are afraid of catching the virus each time a maton approaches. “
Asked about the ten detainees who died in mutinies in Italy or the escapes in Brazil because of the epidemic of #coronavirus, Nicole Belloubet assures her: “I’m not afraid …”
– Vincent Vantighem (@vvantighem) March 17, 2020
And they get angry easily. “With the suspension of the visiting rooms, Nicole Belloubet had announced a credit of 40 euros to the poorest prisoners to maintain contact with families. But it is not yet in place, “criticizes Lydia Found from the Union for the Protection and Respect of Prisoners. She herself has no news of her imprisoned son. “Some were transferred after the first mutinies. And the families don’t know where… ”
The next few days could prove decisive in preventing France from experiencing the same situation as in Italy where ten detainees died in scuffles. To avoid this, the Keeper of the Seals participates every evening in a videoconference meeting with prison officials. A good way to stay informed and, if necessary, to go back on its main principles. “I’m not afraid,” she told us … a week ago.
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