Daily expenses that add up
Each prisoner incurs an average cost estimated at several hundred euros per day. This sum includes food, accommodation, medical care, and security. Prison staff costs account for a large portion of the bill. Guards, administrative staff, psychologists, and doctors all contribute to the running of the facilities.
Added to this are the costs of maintaining infrastructure. French prisons require regular renovations, as much of the housing stock is aging. Electricity, heating, and maintenance costs further increase the cost. Adding these expenses together, the annual bill reaches several billion euros.
These figures raise a central question: Does incarceration as it is practiced today offer a good balance between cost and social effectiveness? Critics of the system argue that the money could be better used for prevention, rehabilitation, or alternative justice.
A societal choice that weighs heavily
The cost of a prisoner isn’t limited to direct expenses. It also includes indirect economic impacts. Depriving an individual of their liberty limits their opportunities to participate in the workforce. Their future reintegration becomes more complex, increasing the risk of reoffending. Each return behind bars generates a new expense, creating a costly cycle that’s difficult to break.
