The Incarceration of German Prisoners in France : Perspectives and The Limits to Projects of Reintegration

The text raises questions about the effectiveness of the social programme and proposed reintegration measures for foreign inmates. Is the French penitentiary system capable of dealing properly with these people who are locked up in France but whose social and cultural roots lie in another society? The survey conducted in Alsace shows that the linguistic barriers hinder the social programme. These inequalities are just as noticeable in the way reduced sentencing powers are applied. The consequence of this limited support is a prison existence that often evolves through isolation from family and prison services, leading to insecurity and a withdrawal to the familiar values shared with fellow German inmates.