The French government is facing a legal case after the death of John Ghedeine, a 34-year-old prisoner at the Besançon detention center, who died on December 29, 2023. Ghedeine's family has taken legal action, claiming that the prison authorities neglected serious problems, such as overcrowding, poor hygiene, and the movement of drugs and medications within the facility. Ghedeine, who was a father of four, died in a small cell measuring 9 square meters, shared with two other prisoners. One of those prisoners also died the same day after consuming a mix of heroin and medication. His lawyers, Me Florent Diaz and Jules Briquet, argue that the detention center is responsible for a series of failures that contributed to his death. They filed their case with the Besançon administrative court on September 13. According to the lawyers, Ghedeine had become addicted to drugs while in prison and had previously tried to commit suicide by hanging in September 2023, which led to his hospitalization without his consent. After being released back to the detention center, he was placed in "B2," a section meant for inmates who are considered vulnerable. However, he was put in a shared cell with two other prisoners, which went against standard procedures. At the time, the Besançon detention center had an occupancy rate of 156%, housing 430 prisoners in 276 designated places. This rate has since risen to nearly 166% by August 2026. The Besançon detention center, which opened in 1885, has long faced criticism for its deteriorating conditions and lack of organization, partly due to insufficient staffing. The general inspector of places of deprivation of liberty (CGLPL) raised concerns in March about ongoing issues after a visit to the facility in 2024. French prisons are frequently criticized by the European Court of Human Rights for chronic overcrowding, poor living conditions, and a lack of staff. The CGLPL also noted that several hundred people die in French prisons each year, although the exact number is unknown. The suicide rate in French detention centers is among the highest in Europe. The prisoner who provided the drugs to Ghedeine and the other deceased was sentenced in February 2025 to four years in prison for involuntary homicide. His girlfriend received six months for introducing narcotics during a visit. However, according to the prison administration, no prison staff has been implicated in the judicial process.