NPM’s findings are considered to be close to the ones from civil society organisations. Human rights organisations maintain ongoing contact with this highly regarded body.

Penitentiary institutions are subject to other external oversight mechanisms, such as the office of the Human Rights Defender (Défenseur des droits). It intervenes in prisons in pursuit of its four missions: fighting discrimination, defending children’s rights, relations with the administration, and security ethics. Its representatives operate within the prisons. Prisoners and their family members and friends may refer complaints to the Human Rights Defender.

Adeline Hazan was appointed head of this administrative authority in July 2014 for a period of six years. She cannot be removed during her term of office nor can she serve a second term.
The CGLPL may visit prisons throughout French territory at any time. It has wide discretion in how the visits are conducted and it publishes a report and recommendations.
The CGLPL may also be asked to investigate any infringement of the basic rights of prisoners and any issue regarding conditions in the prison. Complaints may be submitted by prisoners, their family members and friends, an organisation, prison staff or public authorities. The CGLPL may also initiate its own investigations

In 2016, inspectors visited 26 prisons and visits averaged 6.19 days each. During the CGLPL’s 9 years in operation, 263 prison visits have been conducted. In 2016 alone, the CGLPL received 2,877 complaints about prisons. Most of them came from prisoners and their family members and friends, and were mainly about transfers, physical conditions, prisoner/staff relations, access to medical care and contact with the outside.
Ms. Hazan has made four recommendations and issued five public opinions since she was appointed.

Sentence adjustments are made by the sentence enforcement body. Decisions are based mainly on the existence of employment, housing, vocational training and family ties.

The 15 August 2014 Act provides for non-custodial sentences and for release under constraint. A non-custodial sentence is used as an alternative to imprisonment and release under constraint is a way of making gradual release the norm. These two measures are slow to be implemented.
The changes made to the rules for allotting places in emergency housing in 2016 make it difficult for people who are putting together a conditional release application to find housing prior to release¹. In the Paris region people who are homeless or have no one to stay with cannot benefit from conditional release.

Ad hoc adjustments are possible for two specific groups: those who are seriously ill and pregnant women. Detention may be avoided under certain conditions according to a specific procedure, known as suspension of sentence.

Prisoners at end-of-life can benefit from conditional release. Another sentence adjustment available for medical reasons allows prisoners with a life-threatening prognosis to spend their final days with loved ones. These procedures are not always adopted, mostly, because of the lack of housing upon release.
The Senate report on the cost of prison health care re-iterated social workers are responsible for finding housing upon release, especially in residential care facilities for dependent seniors. In practice, the latter are often reluctant to accept released inmates.