prison supervisors, strong vocations

“Gaaaarde to you!” The rolling of the drum and the strident cry of the trumpet rise above the place of honor of the National School of Penitentiary Administration (Enap), in Agen (Lot-et-Garonne), at the end of May. The aligned silhouettes freeze: straight backs, high necks, tight legs and arms glued along the body. The 220th promotion of penitentiary supervisors has just finished its six months of training – it will take eight from September. Nearly 300 students are preparing to reach a detention center as trainees, before being established a year later. They will swell the ranks of the 30,000 penitentiary supervisors, the country’s third internal security force behind the police and the gendarmes. During this solemn moment, the school director, Sophie Bondil, warns: “You will exercise a demanding profession, sometimes difficult. »»

During their training, the dangers of the profession made the headlines. A few weeks ago, several prisons were targeted by violent and coordinated attacks. They were reportedly orchestrated by drug traffickers in reaction to the announcement, by Gérald Darmanin, Minister of Justice, the creation of high security establishments for the most dangerous prisoners. Penitentiary supervisors were targeted at their home, their car and their home incended. Traumatic acts, a year after the death of two agents during the escape of drug trafficker Mohamed Amra.

Wages that increase

However, Ethan* displays a big smile when he is gave him his coated certificate of a tricolor ribbon. “I am aware of the difficulties but I am trained and proud to be able to serve my country,” says this 26 -year -old young man, major of his promotion and graduated from a law degree. Like him, many of them are committed: more than 13,000 during the recruitment campaign this spring, a stable number. Applicants often come from territories in difficulty, such as overseas. It must be said that the Ministry of Justice does everything to make the job attractive: in addition to employment safety, wages have increased by 250 euros net since 2017, and are around 2,040 euros net per month at the start of their careers. The professions are varied and the ladder climb more easily.

But these improvements badly compensate for the hardness of the terrain. “Three years after the start of their training, 30 % of the supervisors abandon the profession, often out of disillusionment,” says Christy Nicolas, secretary general of the Penitentiary Surveillant Syndicat. With 83,681 prisoners for 62,570 places available, France had never experienced such prison overcrowding. It mainly concerns remanding houses, reserved for temporary detentions and short sentences. The occupancy rate fluctuates between 150 % and 200 %. Added to this is an upset prison universe, plagued by narco-trafic and radical Islamism. “Twenty years ago, the two were sectored, the caïds managed their floor and the radicalized were less numerous,” explains Julien*, fifteen years of trade on the clock. “Today, everything mixes, there is no more hierarchy between the detainees, who have hardened,” continues Christy Nicolas. In 2023, nearly 5,000 physical assaults were identified against the staff, including 243 armies.

“A very human job”

This tense climate, however, does not discourage candidates. For them, the uniform mainly represents a responsibility. They must constantly be vigilant. For example, you have to locate phones that are the size of a lighter, often delivered by drone to cell windows. “But sometimes we are forced to close our eyes because if we did our work 100 %, the prison would be on fire in ten minutes,” says Julien.

However, this job is not limited to a daily struggle. “It is very human, prisoners feel alone and confide,” tempers Jeanne*, 28, who integrates the profession. What she holds from training: protect her identity. On the passageway, she will be called “supervisor” or “colleague”. Reflexes to keep outside, avoiding talking about yourself on social networks or strangers. “I advise to live far from the prison and not to frequent certain bars or certain areas of football stadiums,” explains Julien, who lives more than 80 km from his workplace.

A daily newspaper, where personal commitment remains the key. Like Ethan and his comrades, many of them want, at all costs, “serve their country”. Essential agents, while new prisons should soon be built.

* The first name has been changed.