After a year spent inside French prisons with the agency that audits places of deprivation of liberty, cartoonist Mathieu Sapin released the graphic novel En liberté, a visual report of what he saw behind the bars.
Artist joins the prison inspector’s team
The project began when Yanne, a senior aide to Dominique Simonnot, the General Controller of places of deprivation of liberty (CGLPL), suggested that a comic could convey the findings more accessibly than video reports. Sapin, known for his meticulous line work, agreed to accompany the inspectors on their routine visits.
Simonnot, whose six‑year term ends in October, described the collaboration as “the most extraordinary years of my life.” She noted that the role demands “patient persistence” because “reports, recommendations, and hearings can take a year or more before any change happens.” The illustrator said the medium lets him be “very descriptive while staying generic,” a balance he felt suited the subject.
Read Also: Aramburu death trial starts in Paris
A cross‑country tour of detention sites
His first stop was the QLCO facility in Vendin‑le‑Vieil, a high‑security wing for organized‑crime figures. Sapin was placed in a stark cell, greeted by a masked guard he likened to a “golgoth.” From there he moved to the Lilas police station in Seine‑Saint‑Denis, where “holding cells are filthy, with plastic‑covered bunks, no light, and Turkish‑style toilets that are sealed shut.” The commanding officer admitted that “the toilets are cleaned once a month,” and blamed detainees for the state of the premises.
The journey continued to the Bobigny judicial court, where the underground “souricière” waiting area felt “Kafkaesque.” A prosecutor’s office had appointed a liaison after a woman was assaulted by two officials in October 2025, highlighting systemic vulnerabilities. Sapin’s sketches captured the cramped corridors, the spiraling staircase, and the palpable tension among those awaiting trial.
In Marseille, Sapin visited a juvenile detention center and observed severe understaffing. A youth asked, “At seven years old, what did I do to be taken from my parents?” An educator lamented that “detention of minors is the poor relative of the youth judicial protection system.” The artist’s panels showed the stark contrast between the hardened walls and the fragile hopes of the adolescents.
Later, at a psychiatric unit in Bully‑les‑Mines, he met a patient under restraint since 2023, who referred to Sapin as “a little Smurf.” The staff explained that confinement is a “last‑resort” measure, with 24‑hour video monitoring.
Read Also: Paris Court to Hear Frederico Aramburú Case Monday
At the administrative detention center in Geispolsheim, the conditions resembled “a sordid internment camp.” Detainees, mostly awaiting deportation, complained of hunger and lack of halal meat. A disillusioned officer remarked that “budget cuts are evident,” even removing remote‑control batteries to prevent misuse.
Visiting Nantes’s house of detention, Sapin noted a “quarter for newcomers” where “cries and insults” echo. A three‑person cell of nine square meters housed a wheelchair‑bound inmate, while the women’s wing contained “18 mattresses on the floor” with 30 % of occupants sleeping on the ground.
It is clear from the sketches that the physical environment often mirrors the administrative neglect, a theme that repeats across the sites.
Perspective on possible reforms
Given the chronic delays in implementing inspection recommendations, any improvement will likely hinge on sustained political pressure and budget allocations. If the state continues to defer funding, the gap between legal standards and daily reality may widen, making future oversight even more challenging.
Read Also: Paris Court to Hear Frederico Aramburú Case Monday
Overcrowding statistics paint a grim picture
As of 1 August, the occupancy rate in French prisons stood at 141.6 %, climbing to 175 % in some houses of detention. There are 89 668 inmates occupying 63 303 places, with 7 956 mattresses on the floor. These figures place France near the bottom of European rankings, only ahead of Turkey.
Reception and next steps
Published by Dargaud, the 96‑page volume is priced at €21.50. Critics have praised its blend of “sensitivity and welcome humor,” noting that the drawings soften the harshness of the subject without diluting its impact. Simonnot expressed that the book “offers a synthesis of my mission,” and hopes it will keep the conversation about detainee dignity alive.
Authorities have not yet announced concrete policy changes, but the graphic report adds a visual dimension to the data that advocacy groups have long cited. Whether the public’s attention translates into legislative action remains to be seen, but the collaboration has already broadened awareness of the conditions inside France’s correctional facilities.