Is it possible to assess the state of the French penitentiary system through a comparison with the systems of our European neighbors? The system is in constant evolution (November 24, 2009 Penitentiary Law; building renovations; hiring of staff...) and it could be useful to use the Council of Europe research, from a normative or statistical point of view, in order to better assess where our country stands. Such a European comparison also helps to sketch the contours of a penitentiary system to which France should be able to contribute positively, similarly to what has been done since Spring 2006 to circulate and implement the European Prison Rules (EPR).