Abstract

This study aimed to explore the provisions of education in correctional institutions as outlined in Palestinian legislation, highlighting the importance, controls, types, and means of education in such settings. The researcher employed an analytical approach, focusing on the Palestinian Correction and Rehabilitation Centers Law No. (6) of 1998, alongside a comparative analysis with the Nelson Mandela Rules of 2015 and the European Prison Rules of 2020. The study found that, unlike the Palestinian legislator, the Nelson Mandela Rules mandate education for illiterate inmates, and the European Prison Rules emphasize special provisions for individuals with special needs. In contrast, the Palestinian legislator restricts educational programs in correctional institutions based on available resources and security considerations, assigning responsibility for coordinating education to the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation Centers, unlike the Mandela Rules, which do not specify such an entity. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the Palestinian legislator amend Article (30) of the Correction and Rehabilitation Centers Law to make education for juveniles and illiterates compulsory, remove the restrictive phrase concerning available capabilities and security from Article (30) to avoid limiting educational programs, and revise Article (31) to prevent the designation of a specific coordinating body for educational programs, thereby making it a societal responsibility mandated upon official authorities.