Israel to Build First Private Prison

JURESALEM — The first private prison in Israel is expected to save the country $83 million a year.

Construction costs for the $239 million facility south of Beer Sheva will be funded by the Israeli government and the company that was hired to build and operate the facility.

After construction is completed, the facility will house about 800 inmates, nearly 8 percent of the country’s inmate population. Israel will pay $50 per day per inmate to the company. Each inmate will be provided with 16 square feet of personal space within the facility.

Under the contract, the company will operate the facility for 25 years, after which time the prison will be placed under government supervision.

The cost to house inmates at the private facility is about 25 percent less than housing inmates at correctional facilities operated by the government, according to reports. Officials say that more private prisons could be used in the future.