Katy Perry (prison commissioner)

Katy Perry (Hebrew: קטי פרי; born c. 1964) is an Israeli prison officer. From 2021 to 2024, she served as the 18th Chief Commissioner of the Israel Prison Service.^[1][2]

Katy Perry
קטי פרי
Official portrait, 2021
Chief Commissioner of the Israel Prison Service
In office 24 January 2021 – 24 January 2024
Preceded by	Asher Vaknin
Succeeded by	Kobi Yaakobi
Personal details
Born	c. 1964
Alma mater	Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Career

Perry served in the IDF Central Command from 1982 to 1984. After her release, she studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and during her studies enlisted in the Prison Service in 1987. She served in the Intelligence Division as a criminal assessment officer and as a sources and budget officer. She served as a criminal and criminal assessment officer in the Southern District, and later served as an intelligence officer at Ayalon Prison.^{[citation needed]}

In 2002, she was appointed an intelligence officer. She completed an inter-service course for intelligence, and in 2006 was appointed deputy commander of the Hadarim detention centre. In 2007 she was appointed an intelligence officer in the Central District, and in 2008 she was appointed head of the prisoner's department, and in 2010 she was appointed head of the Hadarim Detention Center. Perry then served as head of the Human Resources Administration and deputy commander of the Central District.^{[citation needed]}

In April 2018, she was promoted to the rank of commissioner. In August 2019, she was appointed Head of the Southern District in the Israel Prison Service. She is the first woman to be appointed to the position of district headquarters at the IPS.^{[citation needed]}

In December 2020, the Minister of Internal Security, Amir Ohana, decided to appoint Perry as the 18th IPS Commissioner.^{[citation needed]}

On 24 January 2021, Perry was appointed commissioner of prisons and promoted to the rank of Major General.^{[citation needed]}

During her tenure, the Gilboa Prison break happened, and as such Perry faced calls to resign.^[3] In July 2023, Perry announced that she would resign in January 2024, following the end of her term.^[4][5]

On 27 December 2023, national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has stated that he will not extend her term despite the war and tension from the coalition. Perry described the decision as an "unsurprising decision by an irresponsible minister”.^[6]