Israel

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CountryIsrael
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Public Security
Prison administration
Israel Prison Service
Contact address
P.O.B.81, Ramla 72100, Histadrut st.5, Jerusalem, Israel
Telephone
+972 8 977 6666
Website
Email
ips@mail.gov.il
Head of prison administration (and title)
Kobi Ya'akobi
Acting Commissioner
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
19 756
at 31.12.2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
217
based on an estimated national population of 9.12 million at end of December 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
25.2%
(31.12.2014)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.0%
(31.12.2014)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
2.3%
(19.10.2017 - minors)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
38.9%
(31.12.2014)
Number of establishments / institutions
30
(2015)
Official capacity of prison system
14 500
(31.12.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
136.2%
(31.12.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 9,421 158
2002 10,922 174
2004 13,605 208
2006 20,628 302
2008 21,894 305
2010 20,164 270
2012 20,195 263
2014 20,780 264
2016 20,368 253
2018 19,376 234
2021 13,600 153
2000 9,421 158
2002 10,922 174
2004 13,605 208
2006 20,628 302
2008 21,894 305
2010 20,164 270
2012 20,195 263
2014 20,780 264
2016 20,368 253
2018 19,376 234
2021 13,600 153

Pages

PDF

A Different Kind Of Theatre: Inmates And Students Behind The Prison Walls

Report
04/05/2006
Author: 
Supt. Iris Tessler, Peter Harris, Chen Alon
Countries: 
PDF

Remote Control Parenting: A Program For Parent-Inmates

Report
04/08/2005
Author: 
Commander Tzipi Virtzer, Chief Superintendent Haviva Rotschild, Israel Prison Service
Countries: 

Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                  ISRAEL

 

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

1999
2003
2005
2008

1,314
2,738
3,184
7,852

14.1%
22.4%
19.8%
35.8%

22
43
48
109

2014

5,244

25.2%

67

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities. 

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day. 

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                                    ISRAEL

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

1999
2002
2006
2010

182
192
352
451

1.9%
1.8%
1.7%
2.2%

3.1
3.1
5.1
6.0

2014

215

1.0%

2.7

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).

Prison population total
Prison population rate