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France

Capital city — Paris

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Panorama

Security, order, and discipline

Security measures

Security functions are fulfilled by

  • the penitentiary administration
  • the police or gendarmerie

Some prison facilities, units or cells implement high-security measures

yes

Incarcerated people are classified according to their supposed level of dangerousness

yes

The law allows body searches, whether full or not, if there is a presumption that an offence has been committed or where a person’s behaviour may pose a risk to the security/safety of others or of the prison.
The 24 November 2009 Prison Act allows body searches only as an exceptional measure if other means of control (patting, electronic screening) are not sufficient.

Loved ones who enter the prison are searched using the following methods

electronic devices

Professionals who enter the prison are searched using the following methods

electronic devices

Body cavity searches are conducted by a physician

yes

Internal body examinations are banned unless express justification is provided. They must be carried out by a doctor.

Security staff carry

  • firearms
  • non-lethal weapons

A special intervention unit is in charge of restoring order

yes

Incidents

The prison administration keeps record of incidents

yes

Individual acts of protest are recorded

yes

(741 protest movements in 2016)

Collective movements usually protest against prison conditions or how poorly the prisons are run. Protests can take the shape of refusing to return from walks, refusing to eat meals, or protesting in the workshops. Any collective action constitutes an offence and members may have to appear before a committee and face disciplinary action.

Disciplinary regime

Breaches of discipline are clearly defined in writing

yes

Disciplinary arrangements and procedures are subject to a number of procedural safeguards, such as the presence of a lawyer and the participation of an arbitrator from the disciplinary committee who must be independent of the administration.

The decision to apply a disciplinary sanction must be subject to an adversarial debate

yes

Incarcerated people are allowed to be assisted by a lawyer

yes

Incarcerated people can appeal against disciplinary sanctions

yes

Disciplinary sanctions can be imposed as a collective punishment

no

Solitary confinement

Solitary confinement can be used as

  • protection
  • security

Solitary confinement is decided

  • a magistrate’s order
  • the prison governor
  • the inmate’s request

The duration for placement in solitary confinement is limited

yes

Solitary confinement can be extended

yes

The solitary confinement measure is subject to regular review

yes