Contents
CONTENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
GLOSSARY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
FOREWORD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
SECTION 1: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12
STATEMENTS MADE BY THE CONTRÔLEUR GÉNÉRAL TO THE GOVERNMENT IN 2012 ----------------------------- 12
1. ASSESSMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OFFICIEL ------------------------------------------------ 12
1.1 The Assessments made public ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13
1.2 Recommendations concerning Baumettes Prison in Marseille. ------------------------------------------------ 16
2. RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING INSPECTIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17
2.1 Detention Centres for illegal immigrants and Waiting areas --------------------------------------------------- 18
2.2 Young Offenders’ Institutions----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30
2.3 Police Custody and Customs Detention Facilities ----------------------------------------------------------------- 38
2.4 Prisons -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 47
2.5 Treatment in Hospitals without Consent --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 64
SECTION 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 78
ACTIONS TAKEN IN 2012 IN RESPONSE TO ASSESSMENTS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CASES TAKEN UP BY
THE CONTRÔLEUR GÉNÉRAL. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 78
1. POSITIVE CHANGES OBSERVED FOLLOWING CASES TAKEN UP AND RECOMMENDATIONS --------------------------------------- 80
1.1 Transgressive acts committed by minors --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 80
1.2 Maintenance of family relations for imprisoned couples -------------------------------------------------------- 81
1.3 Prisoners’ Voting Rights ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 81
1.4 The Fight against Poverty in Prison ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 82
1.5 Degrading Treatments of Detained Persons ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 82
1.6 The Prohibition on the Sale of Coffee in Prison Shops ------------------------------------------------------------ 83
2. ACTIONS TAKEN IN 2012 IN RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC ASSESSMENTS PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OFFICIEL -------------------- 84
2.1 The Assessment concerning Numbers of Prisoners published on 13th June 2012 ---------------------------- 84
2.2 The Assessment concerning Partial Release published on 23 rd October 2012 ------------------------------- 84
3. ABSENCE OF PROGRESS ASCERTAINED WITH REGARD TO CERTAIN ISSUES ABOUT WHICH CONTINUAL RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE
BEEN MADE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 85
3.1 Confiscation of the brassieres of women placed in police custody --------------------------------------------- 85
3.2 The practice of Religion in Prisons ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 86
3.3 Supervision of Prison Staff -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 86
3.4 The Harmful Use of Fuel Tablets in Prisons ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 87
4. SUBJECTS WHICH CONTINUE TO POSE MAJOR PROBLEMS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 87
4.1 The Protection of Medical Secrecy in Prison ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 87
4.2 Provision of medical services for transsexual prisoners ---------------------------------------------------------- 88
4.3 The application of the “Closed Doors” Regime to the Whole of the Prisoners of Long-Stay Prisons and
long-stay Prison Wings ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 89
4.4 Renewal of Prisoners’ Residence Permits--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 89
4.5 The Use of Information Technology in Prison ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 90
SECTION 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 100
DISCIPLINE AND SANCTIONS IN PLACES OF DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY. ---------------------------------------------- 100
1. EMPIRICAL DISCIPLINARY PRACTICES BUILT UPON LEGAL UNCERTAINTIES ------------------------------------------------------ 101
1.1 Misuse of Therapeutic Practices for Disciplinary Purposes within Health Institutions --------------------- 101
1.2 A Disciplinary Regime with Poorly-Defined Contours in Detention Centres for Illegal Immigrants ------ 106
1.3 Discipline in Young Offenders’ Institutions: a Heterogeneous Construction--------------------------------- 108
2. PRISON DISCIPLINE: PERFECTIBLE LAW AND QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES ------------------------------------------------------- 111
2.1 Disciplinary Regulations that are specific, while leaving room for improvement -------------------------- 112
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