Inmate in Dijon attacks guards: injuries and outrage!

Inmate in Dijon attacks guards: injuries and outrage!

On Monday, November 3, 2025, a disturbing incident occurred at the Maison d’arrêt de Dijon when four guards were attacked by an inmate. The inmate had previously behaved suspiciously, which led to the decision to move her to another cell. This refusal resulted in a violent argument that left the inmate in a “furious frenzy,” as the FO Pénitentiaire union reported. The attack took place in the women's quarters of the prison while guards intervened to defuse the situation.

In the incident, three of the four injured employees had to be taken to the CHU de Dijon as an emergency. One guard even suffered a broken nose, while another suffered a sprained ankle. In addition, a third colleague was less seriously injured. The deployment of additional guards, including male colleagues, was necessary to support the injured colleague and control the violent inmate.

Reactions and demands

The FO Justice union was strongly in favor of strict punishment for the inmate and called for her rapid transfer to another prison after the disciplinary punishment. It is clear that the injured guards will not be left alone. The prison management stands behind the affected staff and announced that it would initiate a disciplinary hearing within 48 hours. The Dijon public prosecutor's office was also informed in order to take further legal action.

The circumstances that led to this incident are alarming: according to experts, many inmates in prisons suffer from mental illness, which often leads to acts of violence and self-harm. Current reports show that at least one in three prisoners is affected. The reality of the prison system and the inadequate treatment of mentally ill prisoners represent a major challenge Deutschlandfunk culture explained. Inmates often do not have the support they need and the support staff are overwhelmed.

Impact on staff

The welfare of prison staff is also being questioned. A psychologist should be available to the affected employees so that they can better deal with the aftermath of the incident. It is not only the safety of the inmates that is at stake, but also the well-being of the employees who are faced with such extreme situations on a daily basis.

In summary, both the safety measures and the health care of the inmates urgently need to be examined. Given the measures that need to be taken to prevent similar incidents, it is clear that fundamental improvements are needed in the prison system itself to protect both staff and prisoners.