Incarcerated individuals have poorer health compared to the general population. However, there are few systems in place to monitor their health. Against this backdrop, this report provides an overview of the current state of epidemiological knowledge regarding the health of incarcerated individuals in France and abroad. A literature review was conducted using the “Scopus” database covering the period from January 1, 2000, to September 1, 2012. Of the 5,000 references identified, 277 were selected and 83 were included in the review. The results highlight a lack of consistency in the available knowledge across different health topics. Infectious diseases, addictions, and mental health were studied in particular, with converging results in France and abroad, revealing higher prevalence rates in prisons than in the general population. Chronic diseases remain less studied. Initial data show varying prevalence rates across studies, though not necessarily higher than those observed in the general population. Finally, regarding other health topics, such as dermatology or trauma, data are quite scarce and come from studies with significant methodological limitations. These health issues are nonetheless present in detention. In light of this literature review, it appears important to continue research in this field, particularly regarding the monitoring of chronic diseases and health issues that have yet to be fully explored in the prison setting, in order to adapt care to identified needs. (R.A.)