The Israel Prison Service (IPS) participates in law administration and is responsible for keeping prisoners in legal custody, securing prison facilities, and preserving the welfare and safety of prisoners. A Commissioner of Prisons, nominated by the Minister of Police with government approval, administers prisons in Israel. The IPS is responsible for 21 imprisonment facilities in Israel and the Territories. Originally, the peak number of IPS staff totaled 3,228 positions for 1991 but subsequently another 1,019 employment months were allocated for retaining wardens on a temporary basis. Efforts continued in 1991 in the areas of education, treatment, and rehabilitation with particular emphasis on group therapeutic activity. Therapeutic groups were initiated in several fields: prisoner absorption workshops, release preparation workshops, professional therapeutic groups, individual social therapy, and community volunteer activities. 8 tables