This overview reviews the historical background of French prisoner services before 1945. It then describes the services installed by the Circular of 29 June 1945 that was established for the prisoners of WII and affected by the ideology of the occupation. These new services were the result of two parallel developing models. Model One is a progressive-integrated model that affects the individual prisoner and prison life; it unites the ideologies of prison reformers and social workers. Model Two, the 'bifurcation' model, is aimed more towards reduction of sentences and development of the prisoner's life after incarceration. The author concludes that the 1959 influx of a new kind of prisoner from North Africa has rendered the 1945 reforms invalid such that new prison strategies are necessary. Includes appendix with tabular data and two legislative document extracts. 49 backnotes. 79 references.