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France’s correctional systems

A correctional facility is a state-controlled entity in which convicts are confined with limited freedom. People may be incarcerated for a long or short period of time in these institutions depending on the punishment they are serving. The department of justice in France oversees the correctional centers and facilities. Records about their activities are updated on the ministry’s website monthly. In accordance with the available data, the rate of imprisonment has been gradually increasing by about five percent yearly. This has led to higher operating costs of the facilities in recent times and therefore a lot of money is being channeled to cater for this increment. The budget covers all the prison centers all over the country as the system is centralized. There are five categories of correctional facilities and about forty centers in France. The centers have various types of entities under one roof and are spread all over the country. Maison d’arret This is a facility that serves those yet to be taken for trial, those sentenced for less than two years and those anticipating being sent to a different prison. All people sent to prison commence their sentence at the Maison d’arret (Kazemian and Andersson, pp.7).

Maison Centrale This is the supreme correctional facility that serves people sentenced to long term imprisonment and those perceived to be dangerous (Kazemian and Andersson, pp.7). The centre de detention This facility serves people who are close to full rehabilitation and ready to be integrated back to the society. Individuals with long sentences but not deemed as dangerous may be housed here. Prisoners are brought to this centre after staying in another facility for some period. The detention centre encounters challenges due to the high number of aging population housed there (Kazemian and Andersson, pp.9). The centre de semi-liberte This facility houses prisoners who have the freedom to participate in community programs or even get employed. However, the prisoners must be available on nights and weekends (Kazemian and Andersson, pp.9). Juvenile facilities In France, the age of criminal liability is thirteen years. These facilities host offenders who are below eighteen years. According to the French system, detention of minors is the last option after all the other alternatives have been taken into consideration (Kazemian and Andersson, pp.9). The facilities discussed above enables France to achieve its fundamental objectives in preventing inhuman punishment to offenders. They also give an enabling environment for the rehabilitation of convicts.