France’s Enterprising Plan: Building a Supermax Prison Near the Historic Devil’s Island Penal Colony

In a move that has sparked global interest, France is progressing with plans to erect a high-security Supermax prison close to the notorious site of Devil’s Island—a location historically linked with severe penal practices. This initiative, unveiled by French officials, seeks to modernize the nation’s correctional infrastructure while tackling persistent issues such as overcrowding and security risks within its prisons. As France confronts mounting difficulties in managing perilous offenders, including terrorists and organized crime figures, this project raises profound questions about how history influences contemporary approaches to justice and incarceration.