THE SHARP INCREASE IN THE FRENCH PRISON POPULATION NECESSITATED A MORE RATIONAL USE OF AVAILABLE SPACE, PARTICULARLY THE FULL USE OF ONLY PARTIALLY OCCUPIED CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. IN ALL FRENCH CORRECTIONAL INSTITIUTIONS, A MORE LIBERAL PRISON POLICY HAS BEEN ADOPTED AND THE PARTICIPATION OF INMATES IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRISON LIFE IS INTENDED TO IMPROVE INMATE-STAFF RELATIONS. SINCE 1975, DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF PRISONS (I.E., HAVING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SECURITY) HELP TO ACCOUNT FOR DIFFERENCES IN OFFENSES. SENTENCING JUDGES ALSO HAVE A WIDER RANGE OF PUNISHMENTS AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO ACCOUNT FOR DIFFERENT OFFENDER PERSONALITIES: LIBERAL LEAVE POLICIES, PARDONS, SUSPENDED SENTENCES, AND PARTIALLY SUSPENDED SENTENCES. VOCATIONAL TRAINING, MEANINGFUL PRISON EMPLOYMENT, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND INSURANCE BENEFITS, AND COUNSELING ARE INTENDED TO FACILIATE THE INMATE'S FUTURE REINTEGRATION. SINCE 1975, THE JUDGES HAVE FAVORED A TRANSITION PERIOD BETWEEN PRISON AND LIBERTY BY IMPOSING CONDITIONAL SENTENCES; THE PROBATIONERS OR PAROLEES ARE PLACED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A PROBATION COMMITTEE, AND MUST FULFILL PARTICULAR OBLIGATIONS IMPOSED BY THE JUDGE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBATION COMMITTEES ARE FORCED TO HANDLE AN EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF CLIENTS, SOME OF WHOM HAVE SEVERE PSYCHOLOGICAL OR EMOTIONAL DISORDERS. TO ASSURE A MORE EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF THE PROBATION OR PAROLE PERIOD, THE PROBATION COMMITTEES SHOULD COOPERATE CLOSELY WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES FOR THE PROFESSIONAL REINTEGRATION OF THEIR CLIENTS, AND THE TASKS OF JUDGES AND SOCIALWORKERS SHOULD BE MORE CLEARLY DIVIDED. --IN FRENCH