The police system has been highly centralized since its establishment in 1924. Some decentralization has occurred recently. Each of the nation's five countries has a police force. Most police officers spent 3 years in training at King Fahad Security College following their graduation from high school. The police service has nine ranks. Officers must spend a specified number of years in each of the lower ranks before moving to higher ranks. Police responsibilities include the administrative duties relating to maintaining order, the judicial functions of reporting and investigation, and social functions relating to crime prevention and giving assistance to citizens. The Director of Public Safety controls all police forces and reports to the Minister of the Interior. The two administrative units under the Director of Public Safety are the Criminal Investigation Section and the Identification of Files Section. Saudi Arabia has 10 prisons, which operate under a Bureau of Prisons that is separate from the public safety department. 2 figures and 1 reference.