French Justice Minister Announces New 'Model' Prison in Limoges and Renovation of Existing Facility

French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced, during a visit on the evening of Friday, November 13, to the Haute-Vienne department, a project to build a new prefabricated penal facility dedicated to short sentences in the city of Limoges, alongside extensive renovation works at the existing detention center.

Prefabricated Prisons: Lower Costs and Doubled Construction Speed

The minister's remarks came at the conclusion of an inspection visit to the current facility, attended by City Mayor Guillaume Guérin, the departmental prefect, and several judges from the court of appeal and the court of first instance. Darmanin explained that the project relies on a modern architectural model based on assembling precast concrete units, reducing construction time to under two years compared to seven years previously, and lowering the cost per cell to €200,000 instead of €400,000.

The minister stated that Limoges will be included in the call for tenders scheduled to be launched in January 2027 to construct a facility with a capacity ranging between 100 and 150 places designated for inmates serving short sentences. Four properties proposed by the city mayor are currently being evaluated to select one before the end of this year or early next year, with the project set for delivery at the beginning of 2029.

Renovation of Historic Limoges Prison

Regarding the detention center located in the city center, the Justice Minister stressed the necessity of carrying out fundamental refurbishment works, describing the current condition of the facility as "indecent" and stating that prison staff are working under unacceptable conditions. Darmanin noted that building the new facility will allow for the temporary transfer of a portion of the inmates to facilitate comprehensive renovations without completely vacating the site, noting that the prison includes wards designated for men, women, and minors, which helps inmates remain close to their families and places of residence in the Limousin region, despite the logistical challenges this entails.

Deteriorating Reality and Chronic Overcrowding

The Limoges detention center, in service since 1856, suffers from severe decay and chronic overcrowding that have drawn criticism from human rights groups and repeated official reports. In a report published in October 2025, Dominique Simonnot, the General Controller of Places of Deprivation of Liberty, highlighted cracked walls, pervasive dampness, and recurrent water leaks in the prison, warning of the impact of decaying penal facilities on the dignity, safety, and health of detainees.

The city of Limoges and its urban metropolitan authority had submitted their candidacy since 2025 to host one of these "model" facilities—semi-custodial institutions intended for those seeking reintegration, short-term convicts, or individuals nearing the end of their prison sentences—as a rapid solution to alleviate France's prison overcrowding crisis.