Documentation of 3 Suicide Cases in a French Prison Within Two Months
French authorities have documented the suicides of 3 inmates within two months in the same prison, according to “Le Figaro” newspaper.
The newspaper reported that a 73-year-old man detained on charges of rape and fraud committed suicide in his cell at the French prison of Épinal.
It added, “Also, on February 3rd and 16th, two other prisoners, aged 23 and 38, also committed suicide in the pre-trial detention center.”
The French newspaper highlighted that “during the past two months, three suicide cases occurred in the same prison, shedding light on concerns about the conditions related to incarceration.”
In turn, the public prosecutor at the Épinal prison revealed that the 73-year-old inmate was in a crowded cell without a bunk bed, and under poor conditions.
An investigation has been opened to determine the circumstances of his death, including an autopsy by the forensic institute.
Statistics from the Ministry of Justice indicate that as of February 1st, the Épinal prison housed 281 inmates, approaching its capacity of 298, resulting in an occupancy rate of 94%.
According to the International Observatory of Prisons, 125 inmates in France died by suicide in 2022.
The newspaper concluded that “the series of suicide cases underscores the urgent need for reforms and improvements in the French prison system to ensure the safety and well-being of inmates, address issues of overcrowding and inadequate facilities, and support mental health within correctional institutions.”
