Contributor(s)Fernand Bationo

The penitentiary system

The prison system includes the following:

  • 26 correction centers and prisons (maisons d’arrêt et de correction, MAC)
  • 1 prison farm (centre pénitentiaire agricole)
  • 4 social reintegration centers for minors in conflict with the law (Laye and the Education and Social Reintegration Centers for minors in conflict with the law in Koumi, Gampela, Orodara).

A new prison is being built in the north of the country. It will bring the number of MACs to 27.

The Prison Security Guard (Garde de sécurité pénitentiaire, GSP) is responsible for the security and law enforcement in the penal institutions.

As of the 31 December 2015, the number of GSP agents was 1,410. They were 1,324 a year earlier. There was therefore a supervisor for about five inmates.

The GSP has a special unit of intervention: The Rapid Response Brigade (Brigade d’intervention rapide, BIR).

Since 2013, the Prison Service has been organizing training courses in automotive mechanics, carpentry, welding, plumbing and electricity for employees of the GSP. They then participated in the training of prisoners.

The penitentiary administration designates one leader per collective cell. This person, chosen according to his or her corpulence, organizes everyday life and ensures discipline.