The case involved three former inmates who had been held at Fresnes Prison in southern Paris between 2016 and 2019.

The ECHR stated that the detention of these individuals, two of whom were French, in a prison operating at 197% of its capacity in 2019, violated Articles 3 and 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Article 3 prohibits inhuman and degrading treatment, while Article 13 guarantees individuals the right to seek protection when their rights and freedoms are violated, even by authorities.

This is not the first time France has faced such a ruling from the ECHR, as a similar case resulted in a conviction in 2020. In this recent ruling, France has been ordered to pay €46,000 ($50,000) to the three plaintiffs.

The ECHR also deemed it unlawful for the convicts to have approached the ECHR without first exhausting domestic remedies.

According to French media reports based on Ministry of Justice data, the prison overcrowding issue has led to a density rate of 120%, with approximately 15,000 prisoners exceeding capacity.

French prisons are overcrowded, with an occupancy rate of 120% in 2022. This means that there are currently 72,809 inmates in French prisons, while the system has a capacity of only 60,700.

The French government has taken some steps to address the problem of overcrowding, such as building new prisons and reducing the number of pre-trial detainees. However, the problem remains severe and is likely to continue in the years to come.

The overcrowding problem in French prisons is a serious one that has a number of negative consequences for inmates, prison staff, and the wider society. The French government needs to take further action to address this problem, such as investing in new prisons and reducing the number of pre-trial detainees. (ILKHA)