‘Like working in a kettle’: France’s overcrowded prisons swelter under historic heatwave
Summary
France is experiencing a severe heatwave that is making life difficult in its overcrowded prisons. Many prisoners are packed into small cells without good ventilation or cooling, causing extremely uncomfortable and unsafe conditions. Prison guards are also struggling with the heat inside these poorly maintained buildings.Key Facts
- France is facing a historic heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F).
- Prisons in France are overcrowded, holding 140% of their capacity on average.
- Some remand centres have overcrowding rates above 172%, housing people awaiting trial or with short sentences.
- There are nearly 89,000 detainees in French prisons as of May 2026, with only 750 new places created in the past year.
- Many prisoners share cells built for only one person and some sleep on mattresses on the floor.
- Prison buildings are old, poorly maintained, and not insulated against heat or cold.
- Prison staff also suffer from heat inside the facilities, making their work very difficult.
- The heatwave exposes long-standing problems in France’s prison system related to overcrowding and infrastructure.
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