The number of prisoners in France hit a new high on 1 September, with 78,969 people incarcerated compared to 78,397 the previous month, according to the Justice Ministry.
The figures went down slightly in August after increases for the previous ten consecutive months, bueause of the seasonal slow down in judicial activity over the summer.
The previous record number of inmates was 78,509 on 1 July.
As of 1 September, 3,609 prisoners were forced to sleep on a mattress placed on the floor, compared to 2,361 a year earlier.
French prisons have 62,014 places in total which means they are 127.3 percent over capacity.
In some centres, where detainees are awaiting trial and likely presumed innocent, or have been handed short sentences, this figure jumps to 153.6 percent.
In reaches and sometimes exceeds 200 percent in 17 establishments across France.
France has a total of 188 prisons, detention centres and other penal institutions.
Bad reputation
Among those incarcerated, 20,563 are defendants in detention awaiting final judgment.
In total, 94,906 people were detained as of 1 September. Among them, there are 15,937 non-detainees wearing an electronic bracelet or accomodated elsewhere.
Climate impact on French prisons leaves inmates serving 'double sentence'
France has one of the worst track records in Europe in terms of prison overcrowding, according to a study published in June by the Council of Europe.
The organisation reported a prison density of more than 105 inmates per 100 places available in seven European countries, with France in third place with 119 inmates per 100 places, behind Cyprus (166) and Romania (120).
Measures have been taken by French authorities to try to remedy this problem, such as the ban on prison sentences of less than one month, the adjustment of sentences and the development of community service.
The previous government also announced the creation of 18,000 prison places by 2027 to increase overall capacity to 78,000, but this objective has fallen behind schedule.
(with AFP)
