Sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment for violence in a meeting leading to death, without intention of causing it, Agathe is experiencing a double sentence: that of separation from her three-year-old child. She testifies in the Zone Interdite report broadcast this Sunday on M6.
In France, women represent only 3% of prisoners and few serve long sentences. In the report entitled “Love, confusion and life after: the extraordinary daily life of women in prison”broadcast on M6 this Sunday, November 26 at 9:10 p.m., Zone Interdite gives the floor to five of them who share their daily lives behind bars. Sentenced for robbery, murder or torture to sentences of at least five years, they are incarcerated in the Roanne penitentiary center (Loire) far from their family and children.
This is the case of Agathe, 23, sentenced to eight years of imprisonment for violence in a meeting leading to death, without intention of causing it. Mother of a little girl aged three, this young woman is experiencing a double tragedy, because she no longer has any contact with her child, nor any news because of a conflict with her former partner, which makes her detention all the more unbearable. To “hold on”, she observes the photos of her daughter hanging on her wall, and those of her loved ones. “The separation of a child and a mother is the worst thing in the world“, testifies the young woman who believes that prison is nothing compared to this lack.
Full of hope, she would like to obtain a reduced sentence in order to be able to reunite with her little daughter as quickly as possible. But her behavior within the penitentiary establishment must be exemplary, which is not really won since she is ready to break certain rules in the hope of having news of her child. Despite everything, the young woman is already planning: she dreams of becoming a beautician when she leaves. In the meantime, Agathe does her fellow inmates’ makeup and hair to practice this future profession. On the heart side, she seems to have found love again since she recently entered into a civil partnership with an inmate whom she met during a mixed activity organized by the prison. “When I go out, I’m going to prepare the little house, my daughter’s room… And we have to tell ourselves that life goes on by putting the past behind us“.
However, the sentence is applied: sentence reductions are possible for 7 days per month provided that exemplary behavior is shown, and depending on the participation of the inmates in certain activities. Agathe does not work and participates very little in events, which ultimately gives her little hope. She fears remaining locked up for more years, but above all not seeing her daughter grow up.