Contemporary French prisons

Although it is constantly under fire, prison remains the main form of punishment in France’s justice system. How are we to explain the longevity of this controversial institution? How can the reality of prison be described? What is a prison sentence in today’s France? This paper reconsiders prison by focusing on its paradoxes. The authors question the place of prison in society, reframe the debates on prison and shed light on everyday life in prison in France. Ultimately, they call for contextualizing the analysis of contemporary prison within a broader reflection on our society.