The Comptroller General of Places of Deprivation of Liberty (CGLPL) called this Thursday, June 2, 2022 in her annual report to loosen “the vise of overpopulation” prisonone of his battle horses for prisons to stop “manufacturing recidivism”.
“What return to normal life can we expect from people who, in prison, were crammed three into 4.40 m2 of living space, for months, and often 22 hours a day, in the middle of rats, cockroaches and bed bugs? »wonders Dominique Simonnot in the foreword to the 2021 activity report of the independent administrative authority.
Read also: The controller of prisons recommends the inclusion in the law of prison regulation
It thus refers to the surface area of a standard cell of 9 m2, when we remove the influence of sanitary facilities and furniture. And 22 hours a day is the time spent in the cell by an inmate when he enjoys a walk each day.
French prisons occupied at 117% of their capacity
According to the latest official figures, the occupancy rate of French prisons reached 117% on May 1, even climbing to 138.9% in remand centers where prisoners awaiting trial – presumed innocent – and those convicted are imprisoned. to short sentences.
Due to this overcrowding, 1,850 prisoners are forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor.
The effect of early departures linked to Covid has passed
Prison density fell below 100% in 2020, during the health crisis linked to Covid-19, during which prisoners had benefited from early releases. But “It didn’t last. The opportunity to maintain an acceptable remand prison population has been missed,” deplores the report.
Or “overcrowding vitiates absolutely everything: relations between prisoners, those between guards and prisoners; access to care, work, training and even showers or walks is prevented. For lack of time, lack of doctors, supervisors, teachers, believes Dominique Simonnot.
The desire to develop alternative sentences
Also the former journalist, who succeeded Adeline Hazan in October 2020, reaffirms the need to ” develop “ alternative sentences to prison, “binding, supervised and above all geared towards reintegration”.
As for many years, the CGLPL also recommends “the inclusion in the law of prison regulation”each cell entry having to be “compensated by the release – under control – of another closest to the end of his sentence”.
The question of care without consent in psychiatric hospitals
The CGLPL is responsible for defending fundamental rights in prisons, but also in psychiatric hospitals, administrative detention centers, closed educational centers and police custody facilities.
With regard to psychiatric hospitals, it regrets that the obligation to inform the judge of freedoms and detention of any measure of isolation and restraint so that he can check the merits, “continues to be challenged there” within the medical profession, because of the “surplus of formalities that it generates”.
” Sure, but […] it is beneficial that care without consent […] do not remain solely a choice of the medical profession and are subject to the examination of impartial judges”observes Dominique Simonnot, while acknowledging the “means crisis” et “professional burnout” of this sector.
The “children and adolescents locked up” are one “another matter of serious concern” of the CGLPL, which points in particular to a lack of “overview of their overall journey” and insufficient teaching hours given to them.
What follow-up should be given to the reports of the Comptroller General?
As in the previous year, the report also regrets the lack of consideration by the government of the recommendations of past years.
He believes that the recommendations should “the subject of action plans decided and controlled by the ministers”. Similarly, the government should “implement all useful measures so that the good practices mentioned in the inspection reports are known and imitated by comparable establishments”.
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