View source for Israel Prison Service

{{Short description|Prison system of Israel}}
{{Infobox government agency
| native_name     ={{Script/Hebrew| שירות בתי הסוהר}}
| agency_name     = Israel Prison Service
| type            = [[Executive Agency]]
| seal            = Flag of Israel Prison Service.svg
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| logo            = Israel prison service Icon 2018.svg
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| logo_caption    = Logo of Israel Prison Service
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| formed          = {{Start date|1949||}}
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| jurisdiction    = [[Israel]]
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| website         = {{URL|http://www.ips.gov.il}}
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The '''Israel Prison Service''' ({{langx|he|שירות בתי הסוהר}}, ''Sherut Batei HaSohar'', {{langx|ar|إدارة السجون الإسرائيلية}}, ''Idārat al-Sujūn al-Isrā’īlīyyah''),<ref>"[http://www.mops.gov.il/BPAr/About/Agencies/ الهيئات التي تقع تحت مسؤولية وزارة ووزير الأمن الداخلي]." [[Ministry of Public Security (Israel)|Ministry of Public Security]]. Retrieved on 7 March 2011.</ref> known in Israel by its acronym '''Shabas''' ({{Script/Hebrew|שב״ס}}) or '''IPS''' in English, is the [[state (polity)|state]] agency responsible for overseeing [[prisons]] in [[Israel]]. It is under the jurisdiction of the [[Ministry of Public Security (Israel)|Ministry of Public Security]].<ref>[http://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/About+MOPS/TheMinistryAgencies/IsraelPrisonService.htm Israel Prison Service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806221000/http://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/About+MOPS/TheMinistryAgencies/IsraelPrisonService.htm |date=2017-08-06 }}. [[Ministry of Public Security (Israel)|Ministry of Public Security]]. Retrieved on 7 March 2011.</ref> In 2014, its workforce was 8,800.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shabas.gov.il/Shabas/SEGEL/Staff+Info/נתוני+סגל+-+סהכ+סגל+בחלוקה+לגושים.htm|publisher=Israel Prison Service|title=Staff Statistics – Total Staff per Bloc|access-date=2009-07-03|language=he}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==History==
Upon Israeli independence in 1948, the duty of guarding prisoners was initially left to the newly-formed [[Israel Police]]. The Israel Prison Service was established in 1949.<ref>[https://www.mevaker.gov.il/(X(1)S(5gatg2hygunczyjuft5u2cja))/sites/DigitalLibrary/Pages/Reports/7628-4.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 https://www.gov.il/he/departments/about/odot_shabas]</ref>

The IPS is divided into three blocs: North (north of [[Netanya]]), Center (between Netanya and [[Ashdod]]), and South (south of [[Ashkelon]] and [[Jerusalem]]). The IPS is headed by the Commissioner of Prisons. In 2014, there were 33 correctional facilities, including five detention centers, housing a total of 25,000 prisoners. 60% were serving time for criminal offenses and 40% for security offences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ips.gov.il/NR/rdonlyres/CD985B51-45D2-4FE8-9638-0C7EF008316A/0/Shabas_Id_Eng_08.pdf|title=שרות בתי הסוהר|work=ips.gov.il}}</ref> In December 2011, there were 307 administrative detainees held without trial. Of these detainees, seventeen had been detained for between two and four and a half years. One had been detained for more than five years. None were minors.<ref name="state1" /> Israel Prison Service personnel are trained in [[krav maga]] ("contact combat") and conduct training for the prison service (''kli'a'') wing of the [[Israeli Military Police]].<ref name="bamahane">{{cite magazine|title=IPS Special Forces will Train (IDF) Guards|author=Kosti, Nir|magazine=[[Bamahane]]|date=July 17, 2009|issue=2997|page=16|language=he}}</ref>

==Living conditions and prisoners' rights==
Conditions in Israeli prisons generally meet international standards.<ref name="state1">{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?dynamic_load_id=186429#wrapper |title=US human rights report 2011 |publisher=State.gov |access-date=2013-06-19}}</ref> IPS facilities, interrogation facilities and IDF provisional detention centers are regularly monitored by the [[International Committee of the Red Cross]], and occasionally, by the [[Israel Bar Association]] and [[Public Defense (Israel)|Public Defender's Office]].<ref name="state1"/>

Prison conditions are equal for male and female prisoners, and all prisoners are free to practice their religion.<ref name="state1" /> All Israeli citizens have the right to vote whilst in prison.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Prisoners-of-the-election-Thousands-of-inmates-line-up-to-vote-at-facilities-across-Israel-394181 | title=Prisoners of the election: Thousands of inmates line up to vote at facilities across Israel - Israel Elections - Jerusalem Post}}</ref>

Inmates are entitled to visits from their lawyers and family members, and security prisoners are allowed [[Red Cross]] visits. After serving a quarter of their sentence, inmates may be given the right to furloughs from prison, in which they are temporarily released unsupervised for set periods of time of one to four days before returning to prison, subject to the approval of a committee consisting of a judge, Prison Service official, and doctor or educator. Furlough privileges may be revoked based on the inmate's behavior, but inmates may petition the courts to restore their privileges.<ref>[https://www.jpost.com/opinion/editorials/furloughs-for-what-345776 Furloughs, for what?]</ref> Inmates who are married or in common-law relationships and do not receive furloughs from prison have the right to [[conjugal visit]]s.

In 2011, ICRC maintained a program that enabled [[Palestinians]] from the [[West Bank]] to visit relatives held in Israeli prisons. A similar scheme for the [[Gaza Strip]] was halted by the Israeli government following the [[Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip]] in 2007.<ref name="state1" />

Prison inmates have the right to file grievances about their conditions to the courts,<ref name="state1" /> the Israel Prison Service management and the [[Israel Police]] Unit for the investigation of Prison Service personnel.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-118448147.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111045106/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-118448147.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-11-11 |title=Foreign press tours of Israel's prisons  |date= 2004-06-22|access-date=2013-06-19|newspaper=Info-Prod Research (Middle East) }}</ref> Credible allegations of inhumane conditions are duly investigated by the authorities, which documents the results publicly.<ref name="state1" />

Inmates who were not convicted of terrorism offenses also have the right to free university education, under a special education program in which they take online academic programs from the [[Open University of Israel]], and their tuition is financed by prison authorities. This right was rescinded for those imprisoned for terrorism offenses in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/163549#.UR3ccKWIOzp |title=Court: End of Free College for Terrorists – Defense/Security  |publisher=Israel National News |date=2012-12-25 |access-date=2013-06-19}}</ref>

In a report of the Public Defense Office based on unannounced inspections, the living conditions at the facilities, as of 2017–18, were found to be often unfit for human habitation, along with widespread cases of inmates' rights violation.<ref name="Report2019">Michael Bachner, [https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-finds-inhumane-treatment-of-inmates-widespread-in-israeli-prisons/ Report finds inhumane treatment of inmates widespread in Israeli prisons], The Israel Times,12 May 2019, accessed 8 September 2019</ref>

On 25 March 2020, a [[Palestinians|Palestinian]]  prisoner in the Nafha prison of [[Israel]] reportedly set fire to a guard room protesting against the neglect shown towards the health conditions of the prisoners by the prison administrations, amid the [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus]] outbreak. The inmate, Ayman Sharabati, who is serving a life sentence at the prison, set fire to the guard room when he along with other prisoners was sent out for walk, according to Qadri Abu Bakr, head of the Palestinian Authority's Prisoners Affairs Commission. Reportedly, the IPS lacks the appropriate medical aid and provision necessary to prevent the outbreak of COVID-19 among the prisoners.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.wafa.ps/page.aspx?id=Nznq27a115513309857aNznq27|title=Palestinian prisoner in Israel sets fire to room for guards to protest lack of health measures|access-date=25 March 2020|website=Wafa}}</ref>

==Privately run prisons==
The [[Knesset]] passed a law allowing [[private prison]]s in 2004, and plans for privately run prisons were introduced in 2006. The state hoped to save money by transferring prisoners to such facilities, which would eliminate the need to invest in more infrastructure and manpower. In 2009, the [[Supreme Court of Israel|Israeli Supreme Court]] struck down the plans, ruling that private prisons are an unconstitutional violation of basic human rights.<ref name="Internationallegal">{{cite web|last=Zarchin |first=Tomer |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129516.html |title=International legal precedent: No private prisons in Israel |publisher=Haaretz.com |date=2009-11-20 |access-date=2013-06-19}}</ref> Following the decision, the state had to pay compensation to a company that had already completed construction of the first private prison, near [[Beersheba]].<ref name="Internationallegal" />

==List of prisons and detention centers==

===Northern District===
[[File:Shita Prison, Israel.jpg|thumb|Shita Prison]]
* [[Carmel Prison]] (Oren Junction)
* Damon Prison (Rimon Junction)
* [[Gilboa Prison]] (HaShita Junction, next to Shita Prison)
* [[Hermon Prison]] (North Tzalmon Creek Junction)
* [[Megiddo Prison]] ([[Megiddo Junction]])
* [[Shita Prison]] (HaShita Junction, next to Gilboa Prison; webpage [https://www.gov.il/en/departments/publicbodies/shita_prison here])
* [[Tzalmon Prison]] (North Tzalmon Creek Junction)

===Central District===
[[File:Ayalon Prison.jpg|thumb|[[Ayalon Prison]]]]
[[File:OferPrison.jpg|thumb|[[Ofer Prison]]]]
* [[Ayalon Prison]] ([[Ramla]])
* [[Giv'on Prison]] (Ramla)
* [[Sharon Bloc prison area|HaSharon Prison]] (Hadarim Interchange)
* [[Maasiyahu Prison]] (Ramla)
* [[Magen Prison|Nitzan-Magen Prison]] (Ramla)
* [[Neve Tirtza Women's Prison]] (Ramla)
* [[Ofek Juvenile Prison]] ([[Even Yehuda]])
* [[Ofer Prison]] ([[West Bank]], between [[Ramallah]]/[[Beituniya]] and [[Giv'at Ze'ev]])
* [[Rimonim Prison]] ([[Even Yehuda]])

===Southern District===
[[File:Kziot.JPG|thumb|[[Ktzi'ot Prison]]]]
* [[Beersheba Prison]] (prison complex) in [[Beersheba]]
** Dekel Prison
** Eshel Prison
** Ela Prison
* [[Ktzi'ot Prison]] (Ktzi'ot Junction)
* [[Nafha Prison]] ([[Mitzpe Ramon]])
* [[Ramon Prison]] ([[Mitzpe Ramon]], right next to Nafha Prison)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ips.gov.il/Web/En/Prisons/DetentionFacilities/South/Ramon/Default.aspx | title=שירות בתי הסוהר}}</ref>
* [[Saharonim Prison]] (Ktzi'ot Junction){{dubious|Right next to Ktzi'ot Prison? Not a copy-and-paste mistake?|date=April 2016}}
* [[Shikma Prison]] ([[Ashkelon]])

===Detention centers===
[[File:AbuKebir027.jpg|thumb|Abu Kabir Detention Center]]
* [[Eilat Detention Center]] (Southern District)
* [[Sharon Bloc prison area|Hadarim Detention Center]] (Central District)
* [[Moscovia Detention Centre]] (see also [[Russian Compound]])
* [[Kishon Detention Center]] (Northern District)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ips.gov.il/Web/En/Prisons/DetentionFacilities/North/Kishon/Default.aspx | title=שירות בתי הסוהר}}</ref>
* [[Ramla prison area|Nitzan Detention Center]] (Central District)
* [[Beersheba prison area|Ohalei Kedar Detention Center]] (Southern District)
* [[Petah Tikva]] Detention Center (Central District)
* [[Tel Aviv Detention Center]], aka [[Abu Kabir]] Detention Center (Central District)

==Ranks==
The current ranks (circa 2007). Their military equivalent is shown in parentheses.

===Jailers===
They wear their rank insignia on their upper sleeves.
* ''Soher'' – Warder
* ''Rav Soher'' – Chief Warder (Corporal)
* ''Samal'' – Sergeant
* ''Rav Samal'' – Chief Sergeant (Staff Sergeant)

===Non-Commissioned Officers===
They wear their rank insignia on their collars.
* ''Rav Samal Rishon'' – Chief Sergeant First Class (First Sergeant)
* ''Rav Samal Mitkadem'' – Master Chief Sergeant (Sergeant Major)
* ''Rav Samal Bakhir'' – Command Chief Sergeant (Command Sergeant Major)
* ''Rav Nagad''  – Chief NCO (Warrant Officer)

===Officers===
They wear their rank insignia on their epaulets or shoulderboards.
* [[File:Meyasher Mishne.svg|60px]] ''Meyshar Mishne'' – Junior Inspector (2nd Lieutenant)
* [[File:Meyasher.svg|60px]] ''Meyshar'' – Inspector (1st Lieutenant)
* [[File:Kalai.svg|60px]] ''Kalai'' – Superintendent (Captain)
* [[File:Rav Kalai.svg|60px]] ''Rav Kalai'' – Chief Superintendent (Major)
* [[File:Sgan Gundar.svg|60px]] ''Sgan Gundar'' – Deputy Commissioner (Lieutenant Colonel)
* [[File:Gundar Mishne.svg|60px]]  ''Gundar Mishne'' – Junior Commissioner (Colonel)
* [[File:Tat Gundar.svg|60px]] ''Tat Gundar'' – Assistant Commissioner (Brigadier General)
* [[File:Gundar.svg|60px]] ''Gundar'' – Commissioner (Major General)
* [[File:Rav Gundar.svg|60px]] ''Rav Gundar'' – Chief Commissioner (Lieutenant General) – Commander of the prison service.

==Special units==
=== Metzada unit ===
''[[Metzada unit|Metzada]]'' unit (named after [[Masada]]) is IPS's [[Hostage|hostage rescue]] and [[special operations]] unit, one of five hostage rescue units in [[Israel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ips.gov.il/NR/exeres/34B07B71-CB34-4CFE-B9B1-047A5356210B,frameless.htm|title=Metzada Unit|access-date=2007-10-05|language=he}}</ref>

=== Nachson unit ===
[[File:Nahshon Car.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Nachson unit car.]]
[[File:IsraelPrisonServiceBus.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Israel Prison Service bus.]]
''Nahshon'' is the IPS's main intervention and conveyance unit and deals with searches, silencing disturbances, guarding IPS staff, etc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ips.gov.il/NR/exeres/BBFDAF85-883A-491E-A6C5-3AB523A6A820,frameless.htm|title=Nahshon Unit|access-date=2007-10-05|language=he}}</ref>
The Nachson unit is the operational arm of the Israel Prison Service (IPS). The unit was established in 1973, and serves as the central unit for the observation of prisoners, operational interventions and security. The tasks of the unit include, among others: escorting prisoners and detainees from an [[incarceration facility (Israel)|incarceration facility]] to another location, and intervening during irregular events that may take place to establish order and security. The unit helps conduct broad searches within prisons to find weapons, drugs, information, notes, explosives, mobile phones, SIM cards, and any information about possible enemy terrorist attacks. The unit must also ensure the safety of prison staff members who have been threatened (them and their families) by delivering prisoners to foreign countries as part of international extradition agreements for prisoners, escorting detainees to court and he is responsible for maintaining the security of the courtroom, and even escorts dangerous prisoners on their home visits and when they leave prison for medical treatment. Members of the Nachshon unit escort around 1,800 prisoners, criminals and terrorists daily in the unit's vehicles, resulting in an annual number of 390,000 prisoners. The unit has hundreds of specially designed operational vehicles, from buses to trucks to motorcycles, all of which are adapted to escort the prisoners. Vehicles serve as mobile prisons, transporting a violent and dangerous sector of society that is very likely to try to escape. These vehicles can operate both day and night and can reach anywhere in the country. The Nachshon unit is divided into 3 brigades scattered throughout the country (north, center and south), and under the command of the unit's headquarters.<ref>[http://www.gov.il/en/departments/general/ips_special_units  www.gov.il/en] IPS Special Units.</ref>

=== Yamar Dror ===
''Yamar Dror'', founded at the end of 1993, is the IPS unit for fighting narcotics. It specializes in searches and interrogation.

==Commanders==
[[File:Flag of Israel Prison Service Commander.svg|thumb|Flag of the Commander]]
* [[Giri Gera]] (1949–1951)
* [[Ram Salomon]] (1951–1952)
* [[Zvi Hermon]] (1952–1958)
* [[Aryeh Nir]] (1958–1976)
* [[Haim Levi]] (1976–1981)
* [[Mordechai Wertheimer]] (1981–1985)
* [[Rafael Suissa]] (1985–1986)
* [[David Maimon]] (1986–1987)
* [[Levy Shaul]] (1987–1990)
* [[Gabi Amir]] (1990–1993)
* [[Aryeh Bibi]] (1993–1997)
* [[Amos Azani]] (1997–2000)
* [[Orit Adato]] (2000–2003)
* [[Ya'akov Ganot]] (2003–2007)
* [[Benny Kaniak]] (2007–2011)
* [[Aharon Franco]] (2011–2015)
* [[Ofra Klinger]] (2015–2018)
* [[Asher Vaknin]] (Acting; 2018–2021)
* [[Katy Perry (prison service)|Katy Perry]] (2021–2024)<ref>{{Cite web|last=staff|first=T. O. I.|title=Vetting panel approves appointments of new chiefs of police, prisons service|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/vetting-panel-approves-appointments-of-new-chiefs-of-police-prisons-service/|access-date=2021-01-24|website=www.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Kobi Yaakobi]] (2024–present)

==See also==
{{Portal|Israel}}
* [[Hashmira]]
* [[Mount Carmel Forest Fire (2010)]]
* [[Palestinian prisoners of Israel]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* ''Israel Behind Bars: True Stories of Hope And Redemption'', {{ISBN|0-9776736-0-X}}, by Major (retired) Rabbi Fishel Jacobs.
* {{Cite book |last=Latte Abdallah |first=Stéphanie |title=La toile carcérale: une histoire de l'enfermement en Palestine |date=2021 |publisher=Bayard |isbn=978-2-227-49929-4 |location=Montrouge}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Baroud |first1=Ramzy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4DHDDwAAQBAJ|title=These Chains Will Be Broken: Palestinian Stories of Struggle and Defiance in Israeli Prisons |last2=Jarrar |first2=Khalida |last3=Falk |first3=Richard |date=2019-11-29 |publisher=SCB Distributors |isbn=978-1-949762-10-5 |language=en}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Israel Prison Service}}
* {{Official website|http://www.ips.gov.il/Web/En/Default.aspx}}
* [http://www.ips.gov.il/Web/En/PrisonerCare/Default.aspx Official website- Prisoner Care]

{{Law enforcement in Israel}}
{{Israel topics}}
{{Prisons in Asia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Israeli Security Forces|Shabas]]
[[Category:Prison and correctional agencies]]
[[Category:Penal system in Israel]]