Two Inmates Escape Dijon Prison Highlighting Overcrowding and Security Failures

On November 27, 2025, two inmates escaped from the Dijon prison by sawing through the bars of their cell and using bedsheets to flee the facility. The escape was discovered during the 7:00 AM headcount in the disciplinary wing. The inmates, ages 19 and 32, were in pre-trial detention—one charged with attempted murder and conspiracy, and the other with domestic violence including rape of a partner.

The escape has sparked an investigation led by the Organized and Specialized Crime Division of the National Police, focusing on an "organized escape." This incident follows a recent escape at Rennes-Vézin prison and has intensified criticism of the current state of French prisons.

Prison unions, notably FO Justice, have raised alarms about the security conditions at Dijon prison for months. The facility is reportedly overcrowded, holding 311 inmates in a space designed for only 180, operating at 170% capacity. The prison's outdated and deteriorating infrastructure, combined with overcrowding, is widely believed to have contributed to the security lapses that enabled the escape. FO Justice condemned the government for prioritizing investments in high-security facilities while neglecting the broader issues of safety and overcrowding in general prisons.

As of October 1, 2025, France’s prison population numbered 84,862 inmates competing for just 62,501 operational spaces, marking one of the highest prison density rates in Europe. The Dijon escape has brought renewed focus on these systemic problems, as vigilance and security appear compromised amid aging facilities and resource shortages.

In summary, the double escape from Dijon prison exposes significant ongoing challenges within the French penal system, including overcrowding and deteriorating security infrastructure, fueling calls from staff unions for urgent reforms to prevent future incidents.