http://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/On the agendahe-ILhttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/PolicingHigh_schoolStudies/PoliceStudyProgramReg6_6_10.htm#Sun,6Jun201004:15:18GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/PolicingHigh_schoolStudies/PoliceStudyProgramReg6_6_10.htm Students, who are entering the tenth grade at the Kanot, Nir-Ha'emek and Hodayot academies, began their studies at the beginning of the 2009/2010 school year. This unique study program is an educational model which combines studies connected to the rule of the law, and studies regarding the safety of society the community, with. The study program combines: A full 5 point level Bagrut routrout (the official Israeli matriculation), with a major in Criminology. An academy study rout, which contains a rich social life combined with extra curriculum police activity. Through their study program, the students combine theoretic learning with practical police activity which takes place outside the academy walls which includes: gun practice, a Krav-Maga course (Hand to hand combat), first aid, navigation, cavalry and much more. The students also participate in a series of lectures on various police subjects, given by professional police officers, and they visit the various police institutions such as: The Center for Police Studies, police stations, education bases and imprisonment facilities. About the Study Course The program is implemented among the 10th-12th grades and currently includes about 120 students: The Kanot youth village- the oldest running study course, active since2004. The course includes 89 students from the 10th to the 12th grade. The Hodayot youth village- the course opened in September 2007, and includes 34 students from the 10th and the 11th grade The WIZO Nir-Ha'emek youth village- the course opened in September 2007 and includes 46 students of the 10th and 11th grade. In light of its success, the study program for the 2010/2011 school year has been expanded, with new courses for police studies opening up in the following academies: Kanot- between Ashdod and Gedera. A Program for boys and girls (advanced course) WIZO Nir-Ha'emek- near Afula. A program for boys and girls Hodayot- near the Golani intersection (an Orthodox youth village). Next year's program is intended for boys. The Goals of the Program Instilling values while emphasizing a perception of the rule of law in a democratic state Leading the students towards academic achievement (success in their Bagrut examines) Enhancing the students' active civic awareness Developing leadership skills among the cadets Encouraging a closer relationship between the teens and the police Creating the possibility for the students to join the ranks of the regular service within the police or the border police, according to the criteria applied for the rest of the recruits. Opening up new vocational horizons for the students who make the criteria (the program enhances motivation for future vocational options). All these goals are realized while the students gain the educational experience by living in a youth village. The curriculum is supervised by the Ministry of Education. In addition to the educational staff, each one of the youth villages also employs superintendent ranking police officer, who works closely with the principal of the establishment and is in charge of operating the educational and academic programs related to all police issues. His work is done in accordance with the instructions and the pedagogical inspection of the Ministry of Education. The program is closely overseen by a pedagogical staff, comprised of the participating government ministries. The Project is jointly headed by: The Ministry of Public Security, the Metzilah division and the Israel Police. The Ministry of Education and Culture- The Administration for Rural Education. The Ministry of Immigrant Absorption. The JOINT-ASHLIM organization Terms of Admission: A grade point average of at least 75 Suitability for boarding school life. Students with suitable attributed for the police program A previous academic background which enables the student to apply for Bagrut examines. Motivation to acclimate in this challenging program Good behavior Details and Registration: For details and registration please see the Hebrew link. Sun, 6 Jun 2010 04:15:18 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Victims+of+Crime+Services/PoliceVictimsOfCrimeServices.htm#Thu,20Aug200902:46:00GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Victims+of+Crime+Services/PoliceVictimsOfCrimeServices.htm The Israel National Police is Israel's sole law enforcement agency which was established in order to enforce the Israeli law, maintain public order and protect life and property, all while respecting fundamental human rights. The Israel Police's values are based on its fundamental moral compass, which directs the behavior of all police personnel. The Israel Police consists of six regional districts, the Israel Border Police, and seven branches which include investigations and intelligence, human resources, traffic, policing and security, logistics, planning and community service. The Victims of Crime Services Department (hereinafter: VOCS) is located within the Investigations Branch. In the past, a victim of crime was considered simply a witness in a criminal case. Due to the fact that victims had no official status in the Israeli law, they had no designated rights to be informed regarding the criminal process or a specific right of standing. For instance, a crucial aspect in their lack of official status was the fact that the victims weren't even notified when the offender in their case was being released for a leave from prison, a fact which could prove as a potential danger to them. Over the years, Israeli society has realized the necessity of treating victims of crime with special attention and care, also in the legal procedure, by notifying them about the proceeding, allowing their voice to be heard, thus securing, motivating and empowering them. The following document surveys the Israeli victims of crime services program (VOCS), both in its organizational approach and in its unique characteristics of centralized information accessible to all victims, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Establishing the Israel Police Victims of Crime Services The starting point in this major change was the legislation of the Victims of Crime Act, 2001, which took effect in April 2005. The greatest challenge was to imbue the new approach among the tens of thousands of police officers in the Israel Police and to integrate relevant government offices and aid organizations into the process. An additional challenge was allowing the victims to receive continuous and accessible relevant information which will contribute to their personal safety and involvement in the case. As part of VOCS's vision, we believe that the victims should be notified and have easy one point access to any relevant information from any authority involved in the criminal process, all in an accessible, user-friendly way. For that exact reason, the Israel Police developed a unique, sophisticated computer system which grants access to victims of crime in Israel to all information regarding their case, from the convenience of a personal computer or telephone, named "MENA" (Hebrew acronym for Victims of Crime System) (hereinafter: MENA) . The VOCS focuses on the victims' rights in a number of different aspects: Categorizing different offenses: differentiating between offenses - sexual offenses, violent offenses, severe sexual/violent offenses, etc. Victim's rights vary according to the specific offense in their case. Making all relevant information available and accessible to the victims: specific milestones in the criminal process are defined and the victim is notified according to their occurrence. Protecting victims of crime: a) Complete privacy regarding victims personal information; b) Special release terms for the offender guaranteeing the victim's safety (restraining orders or prohibition of all contact); and, c) allocation of safe areas for the victim in the courthouse. Allowing victims' voice to be heard: In specific cases, the victim is allowed to state their opinion regarding a plea bargain, or address a pardon and/or release committee. Compensating victims: The court may decide on compensations for the victim, as part of the criminal sentencing. Centralizing all information: Relevant information regarding the criminal procedure is gathered from all involved agencies, analyzed, and then provided to the victims in an accessible and user friendly way. Implementing the Victims of Crime Act The VOCS was challenged with imbuing the law and its core values among, not only a police force of close to 30,000 police officers, but also in other government ministries and agencies. Comprehensive training sessions were given to various personnel, as well as training local investigators and police officers in the local stations, and other government agencies who are involved in the process. The VOCS is also responsible for the nation-wide supervision of the implementation of the law, and reports annually to the Israeli Parliament's through its Constitution, Law and Justice Committee. Providing the highest quality service to victims of crime In order to integrate and coordinate all relevant authorities and offer the most relevant and updated information (which can sometimes be spread across different branches and even agencies), the department delegated specific representatives within every Israel Police District – including designated lawyers in local offices of the Attorney General and personnel within the Israel Prison Service. The objective of the appointment of representatives is that their presence in the respective district or agency will promote the continuous service for the victims of crime, by directing the local employees, supporting the program's computer system (content management and call center) and being a point of contact for specific sectors of victims, such as victims of domestic violence, victims of violence against the elderly, victims with special needs and victims of sex crimes. With the development of MENA, the Israel Police Technology Administration was responsible for modifying it to meet all the technological needs of the program, enabling it to be as user friendly and effective as possible. Following the development, all relevant agencies and ministries received adequate training in order to be able to operate the system to its full potential. Reaching out to the victims The Israel Police launched a large scale campaign in order to bring the VOCS services to the awareness of the general public. Large signs and bulletins were erected in every police station, accompanied by information booklets in three languages in addition to Israel's official languages, Hebrew and Arabic. VOCS has a call center which the victims can call requesting personal information regarding the criminal procedure, or general information regarding their rights. [The call center is in addition to the computerized system which can be accessed from any computer or telephone]. The new computerized system notifies the victim via phone call, phone text message or e-mail, when new information on the criminal procedure is available. All notifications are done only with the consent of the victim, an do not disclose any information about the case, the individuals involved, or even that it has anything to do with a victim of crime. Every victim is provided a personal username and password, guaranteeing that only they will be exposed to the information. The program's effect on the community was clear and significant from the very beginning. It offers solutions to important needs which until then went unanswered: keeping the victim updated and involved at all times while maintaining the highest levels of safety and privacy. Centralizing all information to one source: the MENA system Whereas before the law came into effect, victims had to make a real effort in chasing down all relevant information from various sources, they now have a "one stop" source which gives them the most updated and relevant information regarding every single step of the criminal process. MENA gathers information from many different sources, including the Israel Police, the Israel Prison Service, the District Attorney's office, Israel's court administration - making all the information accessible in one central location via phone or computer. The system was designed as a holistic and integrative solution for offering services to victims of crime, as required by the law. The services include informing the victims about the proceedings status of their case during police investigations, prosecution and court proceedings, as well as the status of the suspects and prisoners, their location and release or leave plans. The system was developed by The Israel Police Technology Administration (MANAT), in cooperation with partner organizations: the Israel Prison Service, the State Advocacy and the judicial system. The system makes all information regarding a case easily accessible in the most user-friendly way for the victim: initiated calls, text messages, answering machines, internet and call centers. The process: When a victim files a complaint, and a new case file is opened in the computerized investigations system, the victim is provided with a personal username and password which they may use, if desired, in order to receive information regarding the criminal procedure. At the same time, they are also instructed on how to use the different systems, such as the internet user interface and the phone system. The computer system gathers relevant information for every case from different sources such as the Israel Prison Service, the District Attorney and the Judicial System. Updated information is transferred every day via secure lines to the primary data base of the Israel Police, where it is integrated, processed and analyzed prior to being displayed to the victim. The system: With the welfare of the victim being the main focus, the MENA system was developed by the Israel Police Technology Administration using seven key modules throughout the system: The Core Module: The core module receives all the information gathered from the internal police systems as well as the external ones, decodes and processes the information using an alignment of complex algorithms, which "packages" the most updated and relevant information for each victim. The core module then transfers the processed information to the distribution modules (IVR, CRM, Outgoing calls and Internet) The IVR Module: The Interactive Voice Response module receives updated and relevant information on a daily base from the core module and transfers it to the computerized telephone system, allowing victims to receive all the information via phone, anywhere, any time. This module enables also blind persons to receive the necessary information they require. The Internet Module: The system also provides all information online, over a secure internet line. The program's website also offers general information about the rights of the victims, important addresses and contact information for assisting organizations. This module enables also deaf persons to receive the necessary information they require. The Outgoing Calls Module: Upon receiving new information on a case, the system cross references it with the victim's phone number in the file, and contacts them via phone or text message, only in a case which the victim explicitly asked for this service. This module was developed in order to relieve the victims of the hassle of calling and continuously checking if there is new information, thus preventing the stress and anxiety. The victims know that whenever there is new information regarding their case, they will be contacted immediately, in a very subtle way, that even if someone else gets the message, they will not know what it is about. The computerized system initiates contact with a victim when there is new information regarding the criminal procedure. The system calls the victim's number, playing a recorded message saying that there is new information available for him or her, without disclosing any personal information. That way, even if someone else picked up the phone, they would have no idea what the message is regarding. Furthermore, In case the victim's line was busy or there was no answer, the system will automatically call back, trying up to five times. Over all, 79,118 initiated calls were made by the system. That is almost eighty thousand pieces of information which in best case scenario, the victims would have to chase down themselves, and in the worst case, would have never reached them. The CRM Module: The Customer Relations Management module was developed for the call-center representatives manning the program's call center. The module allows them to easily access the personal information of the caller and update them on any new information on the criminal procedure, as well as documenting the conversation. The Information Technology Security Module: All information in the system is highly classified and is secured by the most advanced, cutting edge technologies in the use of the Israel Police. All modules were designed to disclose information only to the relevant victim, after identifying themselves with a personal username and password. The Reports Module: All modules forward their information to the reports module which supervises and controls the data flow, allowing it to produce detailed reports for internal use and drawing conclusions The success of the program, as well as its effects on the community is conveyed in the numbers: There are 229,000 victims of crime registered in the system and benefitting from its services (In December 2007, there were only 137,100 victims registered). The Interactive Voice Response system (IVR) registered 54,800 calls during the first eleven months of 2008, as apposed to 7110 calls in 2005; 9575 in 2006; and 37,217 in 2007. The victims of crime internet system had 4652 entries in 2008, up from 1014 in 2005. The impact of the program on the over-all treatment of victims within the community is portrayed in the positive feedback and praise the department receives from the victims themselves and the success stories. VOCS has generated support among the general public, community and State leaders. Examples to such support are the words of MK Menahem Ben Sasson, Chairman of the Israeli Parliament's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee: "I commend the work techniques of the Ministry of Public Security, both in it preparedness and the high priority it gave it, both in the field and it its annual work plan… The foundation of the rights of victims of crime is the establishment of a contact initiated system. Although there are other technological solutions, not everyone is comfortable with using internet or even a phone; hence I encourage everyone involved to up keep the warm human contact in this field" (Committee Protocols, 07/02/2007) To conclude, the major effect on the community in general and victims in particular was a psychological one: going from an undefined status, to a pivotal part of the criminal proceedings, with being updated during all stages, having the right to express their opinion and most importantly- affect the sentencing. Victims of crime in Israel no longer feel insecure, left out and secondary in the proceedings; they feel secure, involved in the process of justice, and that the State of Israel and the Israel Police is supporting them throughout the difficult process of being a victim to a criminal offence. Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:46:00 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Prison+Space+Forecast+in+Israel/PrisonSpacePrediction_27_4_09.htm#Wed,6May200909:27:00GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Prison+Space+Forecast+in+Israel/PrisonSpacePrediction_27_4_09.htmThe full update and model document can be downloaded on the bottom of the page The Ministry of Public Security recently updated its forecast of the need of extra spaces in prisons by 2025. According the to updated forecast of the Planning, Budget and Monitoring Department of the Ministry of Public Security, the status of the criminal and security prisoners is due to grow by more than 8000 prisoners by 2025. The increase is a result, among others, of the continuation of the fierce battle against crime in Israel. The Ministry of Public Security anticipates the shortage of prison space to only increase over the upcoming years, due to the expected 600 new spaces required every single year. The number of prison sentencing is expected to increase as well in the near future. The past forecasts predicted only 400 new required spaces per year, but as noted, the updated prediction estimates over 600 new spaces per year. In order to solve the shortage, an allocation of significant resources is required. In addition to the need for new prison facilities, an estimated seven billion NIS is needed to solve the shortage issue, not including the costs of building new prisons in order to switch the older ones which no longer provide proper living conditions. The Minister of Public Security, Yitzhak Aharonovitch, sees solving the prison space shortage as and integral part of the battle against crime and violence. "If not dealt with properly, the shortage will only worsen and will eventually interfere with the national efforts to improve the personal security of the citizens of Israel, and therefore the plans to expand prison space in Israel must be executed immediately while allocating the proper resources" said the Minister. Wed, 6 May 2009 09:27:00 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/CrimeDamages/EconomiceDamages2008_6_5_09.htm#Wed,6May200903:34:55GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/CrimeDamages/EconomiceDamages2008_6_5_09.htmThe full document can be downloaded in pdf format on the bottom of the page The Department of Planning, Budget and Monitoring in the Ministry of Public Security published the Economic Damages Due to Crime in Israel, 2008. Despite the complexity in assessing the economic damage, the need to place preventive and enforcement activity in an economic and rational framework is required in order to enable the making of decisions based on a cost against benefit analysis. The economic damage due to crime in year 2008 is estimated in the amount of 13.7 billion NIS. This is in addition to damages which were not included in the attached document, first and for most, the economic damage due to crime in the field of transportation and also the expenses for prevention, law enforcement, judgment and punishment which would have been used for alternative activities if it was not for crime. The analysis translates the reality of crime in the State of Israel to monitory terms and clearly indicates the great damage caused to the Israeli economy due to crime. Since the year 2001, there has been an accumulating economic damage in the extent of over 120 billion NIS, over 15 billion NIS every year. In spite of the general improvement in recent years, the analysis show that the improvement does not spread equably over the different crimes. Thus, in year 2007 alone, at the same time of the plan for the support of the police stations, which began at the first half of year 2006, there has been a decline in the economic damage due to crimes of personal security. The tendency of improvement in the economic damage due to crimes of personal security continues in year 2008, in spite of the increase of the economic damage as part of the crime in general. In light of everything said above herein, and the extant of the economic substantial damage due to crime, a national prioritization of public security is required. This prioritization should include an appropriate and steady base of planning and budget, the enlargement of resources allocated to the Ministry of Public Security for the implementation of main plans, making the Israel Police and the Israel Prison Service a place of attraction for quality manpower, a more affective and efficient management, and tracking and monitoring the achievement of the goals required on a national level. The Minister of Public Security, Yitzhak Aharonovitch referred to the graveness of the extent of the economic damage caused by crime. The Minister stated that the battle against crime must be one of the highest priorities on the national agenda and its budget must be significantly increased already in the upcoming biennial budget for 2009 and 2010 currently under discussion in the Israeli Parliament. During discussions with the Ministry of Finance, Minister Aharonovitch stressed the heavy price the Israeli society will pay in the case of a cutback in the budget of the Ministry of Public Security and demanded to implement the clear statements of the Israeli Prime Minister about strengthening the personal security of Israeli citizens. Wed, 6 May 2009 03:34:55 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Israel-USAcollaboration/Cooperation+between+Ministry+of+Public+Security+and+the+US+DEA.htm#Thu,21Aug200806:37:46GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Israel-USAcollaboration/Cooperation+between+Ministry+of+Public+Security+and+the+US+DEA.htmThe United States Drug Enforcement Administration is the leading and most important agency in the United States when it comes to the battle against drug abuse. The DEA has representatives all over the world, and is in constant contact with the Israel Police. For the past years the State of Israel and the DEA have had a standing work relationship including information exchange, intelligence sharing, mutual sources, international conferences and joint financing of investigations. This close and fruitful cooperation between the DEA and the Israel Police led to many achievements in the battle against Israeli involvement in international drug trafficking including the arrest of 27 Israeli and foreign criminals. In 2004, the then Director of the DEA, Karen Tandy, visited Israel as a guest of the Intelligence Branch of the Israel Police, and met with the then Mister of Public Security, Gideon Ezra. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:37:46 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Israel-USAcollaboration/American-Israeli+cooperation+on+the+phenomenon+of+suicide+bombers.htm#Thu,21Aug200806:35:36GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Israel-USAcollaboration/American-Israeli+cooperation+on+the+phenomenon+of+suicide+bombers.htmIn August 2004, a joint delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Israel Police and the Ministry of Public Security – lead by the Ministry's Deputy Director General, Eliezer Rosenbaum, met with senior officials of the American Department of Homeland Security. The Israeli delegation also met with the American Transportation Security Administration and discussed issues such as suicide bombings and public transportation security. The Israeli delegation proceeded to meet with the head of the Fire Hazard and Emergency Preparedness in the American Federal Emergency Management Authority and discussed threats and responses to emergency situations such as large scale disasters, fires, earthquakes etc. The FEMA representative showed keen interest is cooperating with the Ministry of Public Security, the Israel Police and all authorities responsible for dealing with emergency situations in Israel, particularly in doctrine, training, exercises and simulations. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:35:36 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Israel-USAcollaboration/Joint+projects+with+the+National+Institute+of+Justice.htm#Thu,21Aug200806:33:48GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Israel-USAcollaboration/Joint+projects+with+the+National+Institute+of+Justice.htm The Bureau of the Chief Scientist in the Ministry of Public Security and the National Institute of Justice of the United States have an existing agreement of cooperation since 1999 which was extended in 2003 for another 5 years. During May 2007 the biannual meetings between the two parties were held. The Israeli delegation consisted of representatives of the Ministry of Public Security, the Israel Police and the Israel Prison Service. The American delegation was led by the Director of the NIJ, Mrs. Sarah Hart. During the discussions various projects were discussed, both existing and new, particularly in the field of research and development, and technology and social sciences. Every delegation presented new ideas for future projects and methods of finance. It was decided that future projects will focus on long distance bomb and weapon detection, suicide bombers, personnel protection, non-lethal weapons and the police and policing in an era of terrorism. The NIJ allocated $450,000 to joint projects and prioritized the issue of personnel protection, an issue which is on the top of the American homeland security agenda. In addition, the NIJ allocated $150,000 towards a project on the police response to terror attacks. The University of Maryland and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem are partners in the project. A bi-national symposium on the subject took place in Jerusalem focusing on the police officer and policing in the era of terrorism. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:33:48 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/CrimeDamages/CostOfCrimeToEconomy_2007.htm#Tue,29Apr200806:08:35GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/CrimeDamages/CostOfCrimeToEconomy_2007.htmEstimates of the costs of crime to the national economy are now fundamental to decision-making by policy makers in the developed western world. It is only by making such estimates that, for instance, resources can be allocated according to objective cost-benefit criteria. However, compiling such estimates involves a number of methodological difficulties — starting with defining economic damage, through measuring the extent of criminal activity, to translating the damage into money terms. A recent policy paper made use of large-scale research studies from around the world, but in particular it adopted the methodology of two studies conducted in the United Kingdom and Australia. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the cost to the Israeli economy caused by the crime in Israel, due to the growth of the role homeland security plays in the larger picture of national strength, the continuous decrease in the personal security of Israeli citizens, and the ongoing trends which raise the need to place the field of homeland security in the center of the national agenda. The following findings emerge from the paper’s analysis of the Israeli data: The cost of crime to the Israeli economy in 2007 is estimated at 12.9 billion NIS (at the rates of 2007) The recent data for 2007 is the lowest cost of crime in Israel since the phenomenon has been examined in 2001. The accumulated damage to the Israeli economy from crime is estimated at 101.5 billion NIS. In order to further promote the rapid improvement over the past years, a national prioritization of homeland security is needed, including focusing intense activities in the battle against crime. Estimating the economic damage caused to a country from crime is a complicated process. Nevertheless, the need for rational law enforcement and crime prevention activities are self evident in order to make decision based on cost-benefit criteria. The cost of crime to the Israeli economy over 2007 is estimated at 12.9 Billion NIS. This number excludes other damages which were not mentioned in this paper, such as the economic damage caused by traffic offenses and costs of law enforcement, trials and punishment which costs otherwise could have been allocated to alternative activities. Over the past years there has been an improvement and gradual decrease in the economic cost of crime in Israel. Yet, the damage is still equal to approximately 2% of the Israel's GDP, and must still be further minimized. The analysis presented in this document translates the criminal reality in the State of Israel into monetary terms and indicates the clear and extensive damage caused to the Israeli economy as a direct result of crime. Despite the general improvement over the past years, it seems from this analysis that the improvement is not homogeneous throughout all types of crime. Thus, in 2007, in accordance with the strengthening of local police stations, as instructed in the Minister of Public Security's policy, which started in the beginning of 2006, there is has been a decrease in damage caused to the economy by crimes which lead to a decrease in the sense of security amongst the citizens. This fact has implication on a number of levels: Firstly, an increase in the budget of the Ministry of Public Security should be seen as a governmental investment in an essential infrastructure of economic growth, and we are to expect that this investment will bring significant positive returns by minimizing the costs of crime to the Israeli economy. Secondly, the emphasis put on the battle against crime in general and in street crime in particular, along with the strengthening of the local police stations and the transfer of all correction and prisoner escort responsibilities to the Israel Prison Service which allowed the Israel Police to focus on its core responsibilities, is starting to pay off. Thirdly, in order to continue this positive trend over the past years, while tending to the uneven damage caused by different types of crime, it is necessary to emphasize the battle against crime as a national goal and to reevaluate the resource allocation in a way is compatible with achieving the maximum benefit for the Israeli society. In light of the above and the extent of the economic damage caused by crime, homeland security should be set as a national priority. Such a decision will include foundations of stable and suitable budgetary planning, increasing the resource allocation for the Ministry of Public Security in order to implement pivotal programs, transforming the Israel Police and the Israel Prison service into more appealing organizations attracting quality manpower, more effective and efficient planning, and examination and follow-up after achieving the set national goals. Danny Krivaa Director Department of Planning, Budgeting and Monitoring Ministry of Public Security Israel Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:08:35 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/PolicingHigh_schoolStudies/PoliceHighSchoolTrack_9_3_08.htm#Sun,9Mar200806:50:35GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/PolicingHigh_schoolStudies/PoliceHighSchoolTrack_9_3_08.htm The police high school study track is a joint project implemented by government offices and civil social organizations, and acts as a unique education model combining studies of the rule of law, community safety and active citizenship. Throughout the studies an emphasis is put on creating a framework capable of giving an equal opportunity to the heterogeneous society for personal growth and development. Research has shown that system-wide activities in cooperation with law enforcement agencies can contribute to the minimization of violence. The recognition of this project as a national program and its contribution to the individual and the public by preventing crime and youth crime requires the continuous cooperation between all the relevant government offices and social organizations, based on a system-wide vision and the unity of relevant resources. The first police study track opened in 2004 in the Kanot Youth Village and in the Ma'a lot Youth Village. As of 2008, the program operates in three schools: Kanot (original program, coed studies), WIZO - Nir Ha'Emek (new program, coed studies) and Hodayot (new program, religious highschool for boys). Each program is headed by an Israel Police officer ranked Superintendent. The goal of the program is to provide a unique study track combining studies and hands on experience of issues dealing with law, democracy and police work. The program includes police studies, criminology and sociology, all to empower the students with values and skills which will strengthen their commitment to the educational and law system, and will provide them with an opportunity to graduate high school without violence, crime and delinquency being a part of their lives. In addition to the formal studies, non-formal studies are included in the program during the afternoons and evening. The police studies, both formal and non-formal are taught by the program's police officers. The program contributes directly to the student's development as law abiders and encourages social commitment and self assurance. The students The selection of participating schools and youth villages is based on the surroundings and conditions of the locations and staffs which allow an active experience of policing and law enforcement. The 10th grade students are located based on the requirements set by the admission committee, while giving preference to weaker students, new immigrants and residents of the periphery. Upon graduation, the students interested in enlisting into the Israel Police or Border Police, can go through the normal recruitment process and join the public security agencies after completing the process. Although the Israel Police does not guarantee the recruitment of every graduate of the high school study track, they are given preference in accordance to their compatibility and the police's needs. The program is run on two different tracks: 1. A professional study track in criminology and sociology as part of the high school curriculum. 2. An educational-active program during afterhours in the dorms. During the 2007-8 school year, the program was operational in three different schools. The curriculum was designed for the school students, and was authorized, after being reviewed, by the Department for Unique Study Programs in the Ministry of Education. Students in the criminology/sociology track take the matriculation exams in criminology at the end of their senior year. Partners 1. Metsila, The Ministry of Public Security 2. The Administration for Rural Education, The Ministry of Education 3. The Ministry of Immigrant Absorption 4. The Israel Police 5. JDC Israel, through Ashelim The Director General of the Ministry of Public Security is the head of the police study track steering committee. The inter-ministerial committee coordinator is Ilani Ababa-Kampino. Program goals To impart educational values while focusing on the rule of law in a democratic state To lead towards academic achievements To raise awareness towards active citizenship and social commitment To develop leadership among the students To familiarize the students with the Israel Police To offer the opportunity to the students to do their mandatory army service in the police or border police. To offer a professional future in the Israel Police, based on the regular acceptance criteria To offer a unique educational experience as part of their studies The curriculum is under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. Sun, 9 Mar 2008 06:50:35 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/ElectronicMonitor/ElectronicMonitoringUpdates_15_5_06.htm#Mon,13Aug200710:12:00GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/ElectronicMonitor/ElectronicMonitoringUpdates_15_5_06.htmOne of the key tasks of the Ministry of Public Security is to provide feasible solutions to the problem of prison overcrowding in Israel. As part of this goal, the Ministry continuously invests time and effort in developing innovative methods that will help meet the needs of the correction facilities in Israel. Electronic monitoring of pre-trial detainees and prisoners on house arrest after being released on bail or on parole is one such efficient alternative to holding individuals in correctional facilities, enabling the Israel Police to monitor the whereabouts of the prisoners or detainees. The E.M. program started in May 2005. Following is the up-to-date information regarding the number of participants in the E.M. program: (As of 9/10/2008) Detainees 849 Prisoners 63 Total 912 To date, 2,511 people participated in the program, sparing the Israel Prison facilities 410,788 days of detention. Mon, 13 Aug 2007 10:12:00 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/City+without+Violence+Program/City+Without+Violence.htm#Wed,13Jun200707:24:00GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/City+without+Violence+Program/City+Without+Violence.htm In its meeting on September 29, 2006, the Ministerial Committee on Violence, chaired by Minister Dicter, approved the implementation of the "City without Violence" project which was developed in the southern city of Eilat as a national pilot project. Its development started due to the increase in violence throughout the country and the need in a system-wide battle against the phenomenon, aimed at changing the social climate and behavioral norms in the Israel society. The 'City without Violence' project is an innovative working model designed to cope with all types of violence on a city-wide level. The program started in March 2007 in 10 different cities: Tveria, Nazereth Elite, Acco, Hadera, Netanya, Rahat, Ma'aleh Adumim, Ashkelon, Ramleh and Bat-Yam. The project will be expanded to other cities based on criteria to be determined by the ministerial committee. Violence in Eilat is down 20%-50% The pilot program in Eilat was implemented after the establishment of a steering committee headed by the Director General of the National Insurance Institute of Israel, Dr. Yigal Ben Shalom. The steering committee's members included representatives of Ministries working towards overcoming violence such as the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health; along with representatives of the main foundations partnering and supporting the project. In addition, it was decided to establish a national professional staff which will assist the cities in implementing the project as well as coordinating between the national and municipal bodies. Project goals To confront all types of violence on a city-wide level, including domestic violence, road violence, adult violence, school violence and criminal violence while identifying common denominators, forming solutions, working in conjunction with other sectors and uniting all of the municipal systems (education, welfare, heath and police) towards the battle against violence. Project highlights: The project offers tailor made tools to cope with violence in every city interested in the project The project focuses on every kind and aspect of violence The project is based on the assumption that violence is linked to a much larger social aspect and is designed to create changes in the general social climate as opposed to specific occurrences of violence The project identifies common denominators between different types of violence The project offers a study model for learning the unique characters of the city which are risk factors when it comes to violence The project defines areas of action while differentiating between aspects linked directly to violence and aspects that have an indirect influence on violence The project offers activities to be run in every area of action in order to bring to the required change in every field The project focuses on creating a city-wide infrastructure which will prevent the progression of violence in the city and will be able to effectively cope with the existing violent occurrences. The activities within the project will be derived from a thorough testing and learning process of the unique characteristics of the city and its needs. Vision To create a city-wide atmosphere focusing on values of mutual respect, tolerance, communication, negotiation and protecting human rights, all while condemning legal offence, violation of human rights and the use of non-legitimate power of any kind. Method Forming a perennial work plan dealing with violence by a joint committee consisting of representatives from different Israeli sectors and professional experts in different forms of violence. During the formation of the plan, the phenomenon of violence in Israel will be mapped out, risk factors will be located and methods of location, treatment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention will be defined. The interdisciplinary work plan will include all the elements that can contribute to the minimization of violence which include educational services, enforcement services, welfare services and recreation services. Development stages in the “City without Violence” model Defining the problem: Mapping out the problems with which the program is designed to deal with, while identifying common risk factors and solutions. Universal types of violence Universal violence is the type of violence which occurs in every society and does not specifically characterize a specific area or sector. These types of violence are identified by the location of the occurrence (at home, on the road, in school, in a public area), by the relation between the attacker and the victim (strangers, family, work related) and by the behavior (physical violence, verbal violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, economic violence etc.). The “City without Violence” project is designed to minimize every form of violence in the city, first by identifying the existing types of violence and then confronting them. Particular violence The particular violence in a city is identified by the work of special teams. The basic assumption is that every city has its own characteristics of violence which creates particular violent behaviors in that city. Methodology In order to implement the program, the following work stages are required: Establishment of an organization committee: includes a local steering committee in every city chaired by the mayor, professional committees for testing and planning, and a professional staff for management. City diagnosis: process of identifying and learning the unique characteristics of the city and the violence within it, learning the risk factors which can be a common denominator between all of the violent occurrences in the city, and studying the statistics and problematic areas in the city. Planning the city project: forming a plan based on the project's methodology which obliges a reference to the risk factors and an infrastructure for creating a change. Every activity and project in the planning will derive from a need, difficulty or problem raised during the city diagnosis. Program implementation: the program will be implemented in stages and will be built phase by phase. Evaluation: The program will be evaluated on a number of levels and subjects. Research The "City without Violence" program is implemented in 11 cities nationwide and is a model program that will be accompanied by a professional research that will examine its compatibility to other sectors and cities in Israel. If the program is proven to be suitable for other areas, and after minor tweaking, the goal is to transform it to a national program that will be implemented in every city throughout Israel. In addition to evaluating the success of the program to minimize the violence within the city, the research will also measure the public's attitude towards violence, their exposure to it (both direct and indirect) and their personal sense of security. The research will also evaluate issues that have a connection to and an affect on violence, such as boredom and parental authority, and will also inspect the implementation of the program and its capability to reach its goals. Wed, 13 Jun 2007 07:24:00 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Victims+of+Crime+Services/VictimsOfCrime.htm#Mon,28May200709:23:00GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Victims+of+Crime+Services/VictimsOfCrime.htm The Israeli Victims of Crime computerized system is continuously updated with all data from the early stages of filing a complaint through the investigation process, arrests, case transfer to the plaintiff, trial, verdict, appeal, sentence serving and prisoner vacations. A victim of crime is able to make use of the system at all times using a private identification code provided by the police. In special cases, as mentioned in the regulations, the system will initiate contact with the victim upon his or her request and will inform them that important information regarding their case is available on the system. Victims of crime can access the system in two methods: By phone, at the number 02-501-7030. (phone service is available only in Hebrew on Sun-Thu, from 8am until 4pm) The online Victims of Crime System. The system can be accessed by any computer with an internet connection with a user name and password provided by the Israel Police. The Victims of Crime System offers the following information: Where the case stands and who the commanding officer is Information on the suspects and/or defendants Extra information regarding the case, including the victim's rights The Rights of Victims of Crime Law, 2001, includes a series of victims' rights considering the criminal proceedings. This legislation is part of a global wave in western countries who acknowledged the necessity in recognizing the rights of victims of crime. The first chapter of the law refers to general definitions and principals of the victim's rights taking in consideration their situation and needs, such as protection their privacy and being attentive to their limitations (such as mental health and language barriers). The second chapter refers to the victim's rights during the different stages of the criminal proceedings, the trial and prison time. The victim can receive information about every stage, and express their opinion on the procedures, such as plea bargains and pardoning requests. The law was legislated in 2001 and has been updated since in order to allow its implementation. The law became effective as of April 2005 and the Israel Police, the Israel Prison Service and the State Prosecution put in great efforts in order assure a smooth and easy process for the victims while accessing the system. Mon, 28 May 2007 09:23:00 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Vehicle+Confiscation/VehicleConfiscation.htm#Thu,5Oct200607:57:00GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Vehicle+Confiscation/VehicleConfiscation.htm May 2006 was the starting line of the implementation of the new law allowing the Israel Police to confiscate vehicles in which drivers violated severe traffic laws. The new law is part of the Ministry's work plan fighting road accidents by intimidating drivers and causing them to think twice before violating a traffic law. Recent reviews showed that past punishments and fines given to severe traffic violators are not sufficient and that the possibility of confiscation and an extremely high fine can be an additional mean to dealing with severe traffic violators. The Ministry of Public Security has followed closely the legislation process and the Minister of Public Security set the regulations for the implementation of the new law. List of traffic violations for which a police officer of judge may order the confiscation of the certain vehicle: (within the limits set in the law) Freight transport beyond the weight allowed by the vehicle's license. Transporting a larger number of passengers than the law permits Transporting paying passengers without a permit Cabs transporting a number of passengers beyond the vehicle permit Driving a public vehicle, private bus or commercial vehicle beyond the amount of hours a day allowed by the law Driving a vehicle which has been banned from the road Driving a vehicle without a vehicle license Vehicle owner who allows someone to drive without a license for that type of vehicle Driving with an invalid license A new driver (within first six months) driving without an experienced escort and a young driver (under 21) transporting more than two passengers without an experienced escort. Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs A driver who was involved in a hit and run – abandoning an injured person on the site of an accident. * The aforementioned list is an extract of the written law. The full and deciding version is displayed in the law itself. In any one of these cases, a police officer is allowed to confiscate the vehicle for a period of 30 days. In a case in which the vehicle had been taken off the streets in the 3 years prior to the current violation, the vehicle can be confiscated for a period of 60 days. A court of law is entitled to further order the confiscation of the vehicle for up to 120 days. The law states the confiscated vehicles will be kept in authorized parking lots that meet the standards set by the Israel Police such as 24 hour supervision, a surrounding fence, accessible by public transportation, proper lighting, a sufficient alarm and closed circuit camera system, proper size and required insurance. The law also states that following receiving a confiscation order, the owner of the vehicle must deliver his car to the closest authorized parking lot and must personally cover the costs of storing the vehicle. To date, over 500 vehicles have been confiscated by the Israel Police all of which are stored in seven private parking lots across Israel that are authorized to store confiscated vehicles. Upon receiving a confiscation order, the vehicle owner or driver is allowed to appeal the decision before a judge. The hope is that this new law will minimize traffic violations, thus drastically reducing the amount of road accidents in Israel. Thu, 5 Oct 2006 07:57:00 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/VictimsofTraffickingInWomen/WomenTrafficking.htm#Wed,10Nov200412:31:11GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/VictimsofTraffickingInWomen/WomenTrafficking.htmAt American urging, the international community has set itself the object of combating the trade in human beings, and in particular the trafficking in women for prostitution. Israel is, of course, a willing ally in this battle and in December 2002, took the decision to set up a shelter for foreign women who have become the victims of this disgusting trade. The shelter will take in foreign women who have entered the country illegally and with respect to whom there is prima facie evidence that an offense of human trafficking for prostitution or an associated offense has been committed against them. The two aims of the shelter project are, first, to provide a humanitarian solution to the situation of a trafficked woman freed by the police but forced to stay in Israel until she has given her evidence to a court of law and is deported home, and secondly, to encourage trafficked women not yet discovered by the police to themselves take the initiative and file a complaint against their traffickers. The shelter, located in the center of the country, opened its doors in February 2004 with places for fifty women, priority being given to those willing to give evidence against the traffickers. The government appointed the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs responsible for running the shelter and the team of carers employed there. The shelter does not have the status of a prison or a place of custody under the laws on Entry into Israel. Rather, the women stay there under 'release on bail' orders issued by the Director of Border Control. Any woman who violates the terms of her conditional release is transferred to a regular prison. The shelter's physical security is the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Security via its executive arm, the Israel Police. The security envelope provision put in place by the IP includes physical and electronic security devices and equipment, and perimeter guards (the latter supplied by a commercial security services company and operating under IP oversight). There is surveillance of all persons entering and leaving. The security envelope is a necessary precaution against attempts to harm the women and prevent them giving testimony. Every woman leaving the shelter to give evidence in court is escorted by guards. The shelter is divided into two sections, one closed, the second open. In the closed section, live the foreign women whose identities have not been established or who have decided not to give evidence and who are waiting for the conclusion of their deportation procedures. In the open section live the women whose identities have been established or who are waiting to give their evidence — a vital contribution to the battle against the organizers of the sex-trade trafficking network. This latter group of women may stay in the refuge for up to a few months, after which they are deported from the country by the immigration authorities. Women who refuse to give evidence are deported as soon as possible after stating their refusal. Women in the shelter's open section may come and go from the building, with some limitation and surveillance placed on their movements, designed to prevent them returning to prostitution or committing other associated related offenses. Shelter staff provide short-term medical, psychological and social care and therapy; and inmates have the right to legal assistance from the Ministry of Justice. They also receive pocket money sufficient to cover minimum basic personal needs. Shelter managers maintain working contacts with the relevant embassies and consulates in Israel, as well as with the support agencies who assist the women with their return to their home country. Wed, 10 Nov 2004 12:31:11 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/AutomaticElectronicEnforcementProject/AutomaticElectronicEnforcementProject.htm#Wed,10Nov200412:02:00GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/AutomaticElectronicEnforcementProject/AutomaticElectronicEnforcementProject.htm The Automatic Electronic Enforcement Project is designed to reduce the number of road accident victims by deploying automatic electronic enforcement mechanisms to detect traffic law violators. The project, due to come into effect in the coming future, will include a comprehensive survey of the published literature; a research study evaluating driver behavior; a mapping of junctions and roads where cameras and other equipment might potentially be sited; an analysis to establish the cameras’ optimum distribution, and other elements. The project's steering committee will include experts from the Ministries of Public Security, Transport, and Finance, as well as from the Israel Police and the National Road Safety Authority. IP data for the period 2002-2003 show that 18% of all fatal accidents were caused by excessive speed, i.e. speed that was either illegally high or excessive given the circumstances or conditions on the road. Numerous research studies have demonstrated that speed cameras or traffic light cameras can significantly reduce the number of accidents. Digital speed-limit enforcement cameras that detect and identify speeding motorists have already been found efficient and effective in the USA, England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand and Spain. The plan in Israel is to install the electronic enforcement devices in all parts of the country on roads and traffic-lighted junctions with a high number of accidents. As a first phase 100 cameras will be installed, some fixed, others movable. As noted, the objective is to reduce the number of people killed and injured on the roads by altering driving norms — inducing drivers to be more observant of the traffic laws, chiefly speed limits, and of traffic lights. Another string to the project's bow is that his 'ticket', instead of arriving at the offending driver's address a long time after the offense was committed, will now reach him no later that 48-72 hours after the offense. The data on an offense will be automatically and immediately passed from the road-side camera recording it to a Command and Control center, from where the ticket will be immediately issued and mailed out. Another possibility under examination is reducing the maximum fine payment period to thirty days and making every enquiry about the 'ticket' conditional on first paying the fine. In addition to all the advantages already enumerated, electronic enforcement promises to free up police officer time for policing the subtler traffic offences that an automatic device cannot catch. Wed, 10 Nov 2004 12:02:00 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Israel-USAcollaboration/IsraelUSA.htm#Wed,10Nov200411:48:00GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/Israel-USAcollaboration/IsraelUSA.htm Since the September 11th attacks, the subject of homeland security has been headline news around the world, and not least, of course, in Israel. One outcome of this level of concern was the establishment of the new Department of Homeland Security in the US and a second has been the consideration now being given to setting up a bilateral US-Israel fund to finance scientific and technological research and development in the field of counter-terrorism. The fund, administered under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security in the US and the Ministry of Public Security in Israel, would operate in a number of fields, among them the two countries’ state of readiness for a range of emergency situations, bomb disposal techniques, physical security, forensic science, and counter-terrorism. The Ministry of Public Security and the American National Institute of Justice have an existing cooperation agreement which was signed in 1999 and was extended in 2003 for a period of five years. Until last year the cooperation agreement was based mainly on information exchange, yet over the past year a significant change in the level, extent and quality of cooperation between the two offices occurred which is reflected in set work procedures and meetings, and most importantly, jointly managed and financed projects. In 2004 a work team consisting senior representatives of the Ministry of Public Security, the Israel Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with senior officials of the American Department of Homeland Security and discussed issues such as suicide bombers, transportation security and other subjects. The two parties shared vital information regarding long distance suicide bomber detection and methods of security public busses. Throughout 2005 discussions were held between the Ministry of Public Security, lead by its then Director General, Rani Falk, and the American Department of Homeland Security in order to lead towards a signed agreement of cooperation and joint work teams. The Memorandum of Understanding between the two offices was signed on December 24, 2006 following the Israeli Government's approval of Minister Dicter's appointment as the head of the cooperation with the United States of America in the field of homeland security. In February 2007, a Memorandum of Mutual Understanding in the field of homeland security was signed between the Minister Dicter, on behalf of the State of Israel, and Secretary Chertoff, on behalf of the United States of America.Wed, 10 Nov 2004 11:48:00 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/VideoConference/VideoConference.htm#Wed,10Nov200411:40:00GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/VideoConference/VideoConference.htmAn Interministerial steering committee, headed by the Ministry of Public Security, was created to examine the implications of a time-and-place-limited experiment in the use of video conferencing during arrest extension proceedings. The Ministry's data shows that in 2003 there were 38,526 proceedings dealing with the arrest extension of a suspect. Even though the method in current use has the advantage of the detainee being present in the court room in front of the judge, it also has many shortcomings. These include the exposure of the detainee to the general public while being transferred from his cell to the courtroom, and the discomforts caused to the suspect himself by the transfers from place to place, the long periods of waiting, and the body searches and handcuffs that lower the detainee's self dignity and that contribute nothing to the legal process. The use of video conferencing will hopefully shorten the period of time the suspect will spend in custody and save resources, which could be diverted to improving conditions in detention cells. At the same time, the use of V.C. will be implemented in a way that will not interfere with the legal process or the suspect's rights. The USA, Canada, the UK and Australia have already put the new technique to successful use. This experimental program has already been authorized in the first stages of the legislation process, and is intended to be followed by an evaluation research, giving the committee an opportunity to evaluate the implications of such a program, and advise on its future use. Wed, 10 Nov 2004 11:40:00 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/PrisonPrivatization/WorldOverview/WorldwideOverview.htm#Tue,21Sep200406:31:16GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/PrisonPrivatization/WorldOverview/WorldwideOverview.htmWorldwide, there are three main models for incorporating the private sector into prison operation and management: The French model is a partial privatization — the entrepreneur builds the facility and provides logistical and prisoner welfare support services (maintenance, food, clothing, etc.) while leaving security and prison management in the hands of the state. The British model — is the way of almost full privatization, the entrepreneur constructs and operates all systems, including bearing responsibility for the fulfillment of prisoners’ rights. The state retains supervision and control by placing in every privately-run facility a comptroller or team of comptrollers who alone exercise the authority to judge and punish prisoners. The American model — is total privatization, delegating to the entrepreneur even the power to discipline and punish inmates. The model selected by Israel is — the British model. Around the world now there are more than two hundred privately-run prisons, housing a total population of over 150,000 inmates. England: of England’s 138 prisons, 12 are already operated by the private sector or are under construction and most of them maintain the highest standards of living conditions, prisoner care, rehabilitation, and so on. The Comptroller and Auditor General states in the Annual Report for 2003, that with one exception, privately financed prisons perform well comparable to public prisons. Furthermore, the best private prisons are better than comparable public prison across a range of indicators. The national Comptroller-General’s report for 2003 ranked all but one of the private prisons ‘excellent’ and the best of their category in the country. In the last decade England has built only privately-run facilities, whereas Scotland has built one publicly-run facility, as well as three private ones. United States: has 160 privately-run correctional facilities housing some 120,000 inmates. Thirty US states have legislation permitting the private sector to build and operate prison facilities. Elsewhere in the World South Africa — 6,000 cell places are under private management; Peru — has plans to build 10,000 privately-run cell places; Australia — some 20% of its prison population are housed in 12 privately-run facilities; France — already has 21 privately-run facilities and has issued tenders for a further 13,000 cell places.Tue, 21 Sep 2004 06:31:16 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/PrisonPrivatization/Mihraz/TheTender.htm#Wed,14Jul200408:08:00GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/PrisonPrivatization/Mihraz/TheTender.htmThreshold Criteria for Preliminary Classification of Bidders A threshold criterion was set at the preliminary classification stage requiring every bidder to include in his group an architect with experience of having designed at least five prisons, each of at least 400 cell-place capacity, at least two of which had been built within the last seven years. Further conditions were: Each bidder or his sub-contractor had to have recent experience in operating at least two 300-inmate prisons; Each bidder had to demonstrate a sound financial position over recent years. The Tender’s Basic Terms Inmate Population The private prison would house inmates of low security rating (granted regular leave periods) and would receive no problematic inmate groups such as women, minors, Palestinian security prisoners or high-risk groups, e.g., those requiring special supervision or needing to be housed separately, those rated of as high escape or suicide potential, the chronically sick requiring constant monitoring or treatment (e.g., dialysis patients), those infected with epidemic diseases, such as AIDS. The Technical Specifications Laid Down by the Tender The tender covers a wide spectrum of aspects of prison life Physical incarceration conditions, the level of services and prisoners’ rights Care and rehabilitation of prisoners The facility’s level of security and safety The tender documentation defines dozens of areas of prison life to which each bid had to refer relate to and with the special demand of the strictest respect for the prisoners’ rights was demanded — care and rehabilitation, education, medical care and treatment, social contacts, physical cell conditions, and more. Drawing on the experience of other private prisons around the world, the tender set out precise and quantifiable minimum performance standards and mandatory operating procedures, so as both to provide the concessionaire an unmistakable and practical template for his operation of the prison and to furnish the inspection team clear supervision mechanisms and success indicators.Wed, 14 Jul 2004 08:08:00 GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/PrisonPrivatization/Oversite/OversiteTools.htm#Wed,14Jul200408:07:00GMThttp://www.mops.gov.il/BPEng/OnTheAgenda/PrisonPrivatization/Oversite/OversiteTools.htm The State’s Supervision and Control Mechanisms Around the world a value dilemma is acknowledged concerning the delegation of the state’s powers to civilians. In the context of prisons, there is the fear that the quality of service to prisoners will suffer from the desire to maximize profits (e.g. by recruiting low-grade staff, by minimal spending on living conditions and prisoner care). Israel has chosen to conduct its privatization process with caution, deliberation and careful calculation. As a first phase, only one experimental facility will be constructed and no less than three separate layers of supervision and control of the concessionaire have been put in place. They are as follows: Legislation and Legal Process (a) The concessionaire will be subordinate to the provisions of the Prisons Ordinance [New Version], 1971, and to the regulations and directives issued by the IPS Commissioner under the powers vested in him by the Ordinance. Any necessary modifications to these provisions will be specific, consensual and made through standard legal channels. (b) The powers delegated to the concessionaire will be restricted by legislation to what is strictly required for operating a correctional facility. Certain powers the state has retained exclusively to itself, among them the classification and allocation of prisoners to the private facility, the punishment of prisoners, the length of leave periods and the frequency of visits, and the review of requests for leave or early release. The state and the state alone determines a prisoner’s sentence, the duration of his imprisonment, the facility in which he will serve his sentence, and any administrative release or reduction of the duration of his imprisonment. The concessionaire is permitted no discretion in the granting or withdrawal of benefits to prisoners (e.g., leaves, visits, telephone calls, medical treatment, food) beyond what is standard practice in IPS facilities. (c) The judicial supervisory mechanism will remain in place whereby prisoners have the right to appeal to the courts (at no cost) if they feel their rights have been violated. External Oversight Bodies (d) The State Comptroller-General has the right to examine any aspect of the concessionaire’s operation of a prison, with the exception of his commercial activities. (e) An External Advisory Committee to the Minister of Public Security, the IPS Commissioner and the Knesset Interior Committee, headed by a retired District judge and composed of outside professionals, will be set up to monitor the rehabilitation, health and welfare of prisoners housed in the privately-run facility. Internal Audit (f) Contractual commitment: A detailed contract will be drawn up with the concessionaire, containing dozens of specific requirements relating to every aspect of prison life and setting out minimum performance standards equating to the best practice in IPS facilities. Any failure to meet a contractual commitment will be considered a breach of contract and heavily fined. Repeated and sustained failures will lead to the rescinding of the contract and the state taking over management of the facility, compensation to the concessionaire being limited to his investment in structures and equipment. (g) IPS Inspection Team: In addition to the above system of monetary fines for non-performance and other incentives designed to protect the rights of inmates, the concessionaire will be held answerable by a special inspection team the IPS will set up by the IPS and permanently stationed in the new facility. The team will conduct continuous close and detailed oversight over of the level, quality and character of the service given by the concessionaire and his respect for prisoners’ rights. The inspectors will possess comprehensive and immediate powers of interrogation, intervention, search and punishment. (h) The IPS will retain oversight over the training and certification of prison officers in the privately-run facility. Every prison officer in the facility must receive prior IPS approval, with the IPS also retaining the right to require his replacement. Staffing levels and performance standards, as well as training programs and graduation tests, will all be under IPS supervision.Wed, 14 Jul 2004 08:07:00 GMT