A seven-justice High Court panel last week issued an open-ended order delaying the opening of Israel’s first private prison. The opening was to have taken place in the coming two months, launching a facility that will house up to 800 light and moderate prisoners, who jail terms do not exceed seven years.

The court stated that the construction of the prison to date is the responsibility of the treasury, public security ministry, and the firms involved, but added the law is not yet clear regarding the launching of the nation’s first private prison, and as such, the grand opening will be delayed indefinitely until the legal aspects of the new prison are resolved.

The Knesset amended the law in 2004, permitting the publishing of a tender for the first private prison, and a petition was filed against the move to the High Court four years ago, challenging the legality of the decision.

There are an estimated 200 private prisons worldwide, with most being in the United States, housing a total of 150,000 prisoners. It is reported that the private prisons can save government between 5%-15% of operating costs over government run prisons.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)