The situation at the Bordeaux-Gradignan penitentiary center has deteriorated for prison staff, who are managing severe overcrowding while facing understaffing. Inmates are confined in cells that are too small for the current population numbers. The old prison facility, which was scheduled to close due to unsanitary conditions, still held 621 inmates as of Monday. This figure represents more than double its official capacity of 234 places, forcing 170 detainees to sleep on the floor.
The adjacent new prison building, which was undersized from the outset, also faces critical issues. With only 142 designated spots, 103 mattresses are currently placed directly on the ground. This represents a worsening trend compared to 2023, when the "stop écrou" measure was implemented after 150 floor mattresses were counted. The persistent overcrowding has heightened tensions among prisoners, leading to increased violence.
Recent incidents highlight the severity of the unrest. On Saturday, for the second time in a month, an inmate attacked guards in an attempt to be transferred to the disciplinary unit, where punished inmates are housed alone. To achieve this goal, the man bit and strangled a guard. A month earlier, on September 27, the same detainee had assaulted another officer using a fork. Concurrently, significant drug trafficking is reported to be rampant within the prison walls.
A prison guard speaking to Le Figaro described the occupancy rates in men's detention centers as unprecedented. The staff reportedly faces daily assaults, insults, and threats while managing an unmanageable detention environment where inmates are under the influence of various drugs. The guard stated that the administration is unable to ensure their safety. In response, the UFAP Unsa Justice union has emphasized the urgent need to increase resources for the facility if the inmate population continues to explode.
Sources: Le Figaro.