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Perhaps the nation's most notorious prison, the La Santé prison – in which ex-president of France Nicolas Sarkozy is now serving a five year prison sentence for criminal conspiracy to solicit election financing from the Libyan government – stands as the sole surviving prison within the city of Paris.

Located in the southern Montparnasse area of the city, it was inaugurated in 1867 and was the site of no fewer than 40 death penalties, the final one in 1972. Partially shut down for renovation in 2014, the institution resumed operations half a decade later and holds more than 1,100 detainees.

Well-known former inmates include the poet Guillaume Apollinaire, the financial trader Jérôme Kerviel, the civil servant and Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon, the tycoon and political figure Bernard Tapie, the militant from the seventies Carlos the Jackal, and modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel.

Special Treatment for Prominent Inmates

Prominent or endangered prisoners are typically accommodated in the prison's QB4 section for “vulnerable people” – the so-called “VIP section” – in solitary cells, not the standard triple-occupancy cells, and kept alone during outdoor activities for safety concerns.

Located on the first floor, the ward has a set of uniform cells and a dedicated recreation area so detainees are not required to mingle with other prisoners – while they are still subject to calls, jeers and cellphone pictures from neighboring units.

Mainly for this reason, Sarkozy is set to be housed in the solitary confinement unit, which is in a separate wing. Actually, circumstances are largely identical as in the QB4 ward: the ex-president will be alone in his cell and accompanied by a prison officer each time he leaves it.

“The goal is to avoid any problems at all, so we have to stop him from meeting other prisoners,” a prison source stated. “The easiest and best method is to send Nicolas Sarkozy directly to solitary confinement.”

Cell Conditions

Each of the solitary and VIP rooms are the same to those in other parts in the institution, measuring around 10 sq metres, with window blinds designed to reduce interaction, a sleeping cot, a writing table, a shower unit, lavatory, and landline telephone with pre-set numbers.

Sarkozy is provided with typical prison food but will also have access to the commissary, where he can acquire items to prepare himself, as well as to a small solitary outdoor space, a exercise room and the library. He can rent a fridge for €7.50 a per month and a television for 14.15 euros.

Restricted Visits

Apart from three allowed visits a per week, he will mainly be alone – a privilege in La Santé, which in spite of its recent renovation is running at roughly twice its planned occupancy of 657 detainees. France’s correctional facilities are the third most congested in the EU.

Prison Supplies

Sarkozy, who has steadfastly asserted his non-guilt, has declared he will be bringing with him a life story of Jesus and a edition of The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, in which an innocent man is condemned to jail but breaks out to seek vengeance.

Sarkozy’s legal counsel, Jean-Michel Darrois, said he was also packing earplugs because prison can be loud at during the night, and a few jumpers, because rooms can be chilly. Sarkozy has stated he is fearless of being in prison and plans to use it to author a manuscript.

Release Prospects

It remains uncertain, nevertheless, how long he will in fact remain in La Santé: his legal team have lodged for his premature release, and an appeals judge will must establish a chance of absconding, further crimes or witness-tampering to validate his ongoing incarceration.

France's law specialists have indicated he may be freed within a month.