Like an irony of fate, at a time when the hundred most dangerous detainees must integrate the High Security district of Vendin-le-Veil (Pas-de-Calais), the multi-wrist of the Rédone Faïd escape could quickly leave the penitentiary establishment, where at least end it with its conditions of detention in isolation …
The Douai Court of Appeal (North) has just made a very positive decision for the detainee who has been in isolation for 12 years. She confirmed on July 21 that the current conditions of detention of the famous robber are “contrary to the dignity of the human person”.
This decision confirms the order made on July 7 by a judge the chamber of application of the sentences of the Bethune judicial court, whose prosecution had appealed. This is the first time that the Douaisian magistrates has valued such a decision concerning Faïd, when they had rejected in December 2024 a previous similar request.
A degradation of the detainee’s state of health
In their motivations, the judges point to five elements which, combined, affect the dignity of the prisoner: his placement to isolate for more than 12 years (only interrupted by his escapes), the systematic use of a hygiaphone during his visiting rooms since 2018, the absence of a family life unit, the drop in light due to the installation of a double cailbotis in May 2025 New activities promised at the end of 2024, with the exception of art therapy.
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The Court is based on two recent medical reports attesting to a degradation of the detainee’s health. A doctor notes that “the effect of treatment is limited by living conditions, the absence of brightness and low physical activity”. More worrying, another doctor notes “a risk of worsening in the form of depression” and adds that “criminological dangerousness can only increase if Rédoine Faid experiences a experience of despair”.
The Court fixes a period of one month to the prison administration to end these conditions of detention, “by any means”. A report on the measures taken must be sent to the judge of the application of the sentences of Bethune no later than August 21, 2025.
“Exemplary” behavior
This decision comes when the administration would not have kept its commitments made in December 2024. The director of Vendin-le-Vieil had promised to develop activities to mitigate the isolation: common activities with other prisoners, animal mediation, cultural activities, adapted sports and light therapy. Only art therapy was finally implemented.
The Court also underlines the “exemplary” behavior of the prisoner for several years, with the exception of a minor incident in January 2025. The recent addition of a second fence to its window also weighed in the balance, the prosecutor of Bethune himself noted that this measure “significantly reducing the brightness” was unjustified with regard to the behavior of Faïd.
Paradoxically, this decision comes a few days after a contradictory order from the Lille Administrative Court. On July 16, the administrative jurisdiction confirmed the maintenance of the insulation of the robber, believing that it remains “of particular dangerousness” and that “the risks of recurrence of attempted escape are not to be excluded”. A position that contrasts with the analysis of judicial judges considering that prolonged isolation becomes counterproductive.
A “historic” decision for his lawyer
One thing is certain the decision of the Douai Court of Appeal marks a turning point for the prisoner’s prison life. Contacted, Me Benoît David, the lawyer for Rédoine Faïd considers “this decision as a historic”. “She comes to filigree say that prison is the only deprivation to come and go and cannot be a place where prisoners are subject to other things than to the execution of a prison sentence.”
The lawyer notes that this decision also comes “to say that” isolation + hygiaphone + nocturnal awakening + absence of natural light “is an inhuman and degrading treatment” while “the parliament has just passed the narcotrafic law which takes up these conditions of detention”. According to lawyers, “prisoners will therefore be able to claim it”.
