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Several studies have documented that ex-prisoners are at higher risk of death than the general population but only one study, concerning one single prison, has examined the French case. This study relies on a nationally representative sample of all inmates released from French prisons between June and December 2002. A linkage between two administrative databases makes it possible to study mortality within 5 years after release. The magnitude of ex-prisoners’ excess mortality is similar to that observed in other studies. The standardized mortality ratio is 3.6 (95% CI 3.1–4.1). Excess mortality after release is especially high between the ages of 30 and 50. Inmates incarcerated for at least 5 years have lower risks of dying (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2–0.9). We also find that adjusted sentences are protective (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.3–0.9).

Le taux de suicide dans les prisons francaises a quintuple en 50 ans alors qu'il a dans le meme temps peu change dans la population generale. Au vu de l'evolution du taux d'occupation des prisons, la surpopulation en milieu carceral ne peut etre l'unique raison de cette augmentation. La prison heberge des personnes psychologiquement vulnerables, sujettes au suicide, et en ce sens differentes du reste de la population. Les prevenus se suicident deux fois plus que les condamnes et la frequence des suicides varie en fonction de la gravite de l'infraction commise. La France presente le taux de suicide carceral le plus eleve de l'Europe des Quinze, avec des detenus qui se suicident 5 a 6 fois plus que les hommes âges de 15 a 59 ans.

Before looking at the latest research into the recidivism of long-term prisoners which was carried out in France, a general overview is presented as well as an analysis of the change to the French prison population over the last 20 years; a study of the prison population inflation, based on the triptych: stock, flow, duration, as well as the evolution of penal and socio-demographic structures. To study the problem of prison overcrowding, the authors applied a statistical method called concentration analysis, first introduced into prison demography by Pierre Tournier in the work of the Council for Penological Co-operation (Council of Europe).

Background Suicide rates are high among prisoners but little is known about the precise weight of each risk factor. Methods We collected data on the periods of imprisonment of all adult males incarcerated in France between 1 January, 2006 and 15 July, 2009. We used survival analyses from the incarceration to its end, censored by the observation period. We calculated suicide rates and performed a Cox model to assess the link between prisoners’ imprisonment characteristics and suicide risk. Results Overall, 301,611 periods of imprisonment were observed and 353 suicides were recorded. The suicide rate was 17.9 suicides per 10,000 person-years (95% CI: 16.1–19.9). The hazard ratio (HR) of suicide risk was high for placements in a disciplinary cell (15.7, 95% CI: 10.6–23.5) and varied depending on the main offence (homicide: 7.6, 95% CI: 5.3–10.9, rape: 4.6, 95% CI: 3.2–6.6, other sexual assault: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.9–4.6, other violent offence: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.5–2.8, compared with other offences). HR was lower when visits from relatives were observed (0.4, 95% CI: 0.3–0.5) and higher if a hospitalization was observed (1.6, 95% CI: 1.3–2.0). After conviction, HR halved with respect to the remand period, but there was no difference by sentence length. HR was higher if incarceration occurred after age 30 (1.4, 95% CI: 1.1–1.7). Foreigners tended to have lower risks than French prisoners, with the exception of those incarcerated for rape. Conclusions The suicide rate in prison is generally much higher than in the general population. This study has replicated previous international findings, highlighting the impact of the type of offence on suicide risk. Suicide prevention programmes must consider the high risk associated with incarceration for a criminal offence against a person. With regard to the impact of visits from relatives and placements in a disciplinary cell, further work should be conducted from a psychological perspective to examine the effects of physical and social isolation.

Entre 1991 et 2006, une grâce collective annuelle a été prononcée à l’occasion de la fête nationale afin de remédier à la surpopulation carcérale, en permettant la libération anticipée de condamnés. La décision du président de la République élu en mai 2007 de ne pas mettre en œuvre une loi d’amnistie ou des grâces collectives a mis fin à ces libérations qui permettaient un court répit de la croissance de la population carcérale. Les grâces collectives, qui ne prennent pas en compte les caractéristiques individuelles des bénéficiaires, étaient une spécificité française dans leur ampleur et leur régularité. Cette étude est établie à partir d’une analyse complémentaire d’une enquête portant sur la récidive des sortants de prison de 1996-1997.

Au 1er janvier 2001, les etrangers incarceres representaient pres de 22 % de la population detenue en metropole. Entre 1975 et 1993, leur nombre a quadruple. Depuis 1996, il diminue. Comment peut-on expliquer ce fort accroissement et cette diminution, a quels facteurs peut-on attribuer le nombre d’etrangers dans les prisons francaises ? Qui sont les detenus etrangers ?