Ben Gvir’s Crocodile Deterrent Plan at Israeli Prison Joins Global Unusual Jail Practices
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman have initiated a unique security measure at Ketziot Prison by constructing a crocodile moat around the wing housing security detainees. Although construction has begun, a court temporarily halted the transfer of crocodiles to the site in early August. This unusual deterrent echoes other extraordinary prison practices worldwide.
One notable example is the infamous "Devil’s Island" prison in French Guiana, a remote island surrounded by shark-infested waters and strong currents, making escape nearly impossible. It was used for political prisoners, including the famous French officer Alfred Dreyfus.
In the Philippines, the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center gained global attention for its mass choreographed prisoner dances, initially part of a rehabilitation program. A 2007 video of inmates performing Michael Jackson’s "Thriller" went viral, turning the prison into an international phenomenon.
Brazil’s Santa Rita do Sapucai prison introduced a program where inmates pedal stationary bikes connected to electricity generators powering nearby streetlights. Inmates earn early release days by volunteering for eight-hour pedaling shifts, blending exercise, community contribution, and sentence reduction.
Austria’s Leoben Justice Center, completed in 2004, offers prison conditions resembling shared apartments with kitchenettes, lounges, sports facilities, and rooftop gardens. This design aims to maintain a life-like environment to support inmate rehabilitation rather than punishment.
These global examples of unconventional prison methods provide context to Ben Gvir’s crocodile moat plan, highlighting diverse approaches to incarceration and rehabilitation worldwide.
