In force
Saudi Juvenile Law
نظام الأحداث
The Juvenile Law of Saudi Arabia. This page presents the official Arabic text of each article with plain-English explanations.
- Articles
- 24
- In force
- 24
- Amended
- 0
- Issued
- 19/11/1439 AH
Issued by: مرسوم ملكي رقم م/113 بتاريخ 1439/11/19 هـ · قرار مجلس الوزراء رقم (594) بتاريخ 1439/11/18 هـ
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Juvenile Law by topic
Definition of a Juvenile and Age of Responsibility5 articlesArrest and Notification of a Juvenile4 articlesDetaining a Juvenile in a Juvenile Home3 articlesInvestigating a Juvenile5 articlesTrial of a Juvenile4 articlesJuvenile Penalties and Measures2 articlesConditional Release and Enforcing Judgments4 articles
Articles of the Saudi Juvenile Law
- Article 1The article defines the key terms of the Juvenile Law, most importantly that a juvenile is anyone who has completed seven years of age and has not completed eighteen.
- Article 2The article provides that a person who has not completed seven years of age at the time of committing the punishable act is not held criminally liable.
- Article 3The article provides that a juvenile's age is calculated by the Hijri calendar based on any official document, and allows the court to refer him to a competent medical body to estimate his age.
- Article 4The article provides that procedures for reports by juvenile complainants and their testimony take place in a suitable place in the presence of the guardian, while reducing the need for them to attend in future.
- Article 5The article regulates the arrest of a juvenile: his guardian is informed immediately in flagrante cases, and otherwise the arrest is carried out with the guardian or a Home representative present, or in a way that prevents being alone with him.
- Article 6The article provides that, in all cases, notifying a juvenile is not valid unless his guardian or the person acting in his place is notified.
- Article 7The article prevents detaining a juvenile for investigation unless the Public Prosecution sees that the interest requires it, in which case he is detained only in the Home and by a reasoned order.
- Article 8The article requires a juvenile to be transferred at once to the nearest facility if there is none where he or she lives, and sets who accompanies a male and a female juvenile during the transfer.
- Article 9The article sets juvenile detention at five days, extendable to 15 days and then to 60 days from arrest, and after that only by a reasoned court order.
- Article 10The article provides that in places with no juvenile facility, the juvenile's statements are heard in the presence of a guardian or Ministry representative, and he or she is handed to the guardian against an undertaking unless the Public Prosecution sees otherwise.
- Article 11The article bars the Public Prosecution from questioning a juvenile except in the presence of a guardian, a social researcher or specialist, or a lawyer, and makes the facility the default place.
- Article 12The article requires the facility to prepare a social report on the juvenile as soon as he or she is placed there and submit it to the court with the case file, then to submit reports on an ongoing basis.
- Article 13The article accepts a charge decision without a statement of claim in juvenile cases, without prejudice to the parties' right to object, and excepts cases that require three judges.
- Article 14The article provides for trying the juvenile in his or her presence and that of the guardian or a facility representative, with the right to a lawyer, and lets the court excuse them from attending at the request of an interested person.
- Article 15The article sets what is imposed on a juvenile: measures only for those under 15, and placement in the facility instead of prison for those who have turned 15, with measures allowed instead.
- Article 16The article provides that the Juvenile Law does not prejudice the rulings established by Sharia in hudud and qisas crimes.
- Article 17The article provides that a juvenile who turns 18 before the placement period ends is transferred to prison to complete the remainder, unless the court decides otherwise.
- Article 18The article requires the Public Prosecution, where juveniles and non-juveniles take part in a crime, to prepare a separate file for each group, and to apply the Juvenile Law's procedures and provisions to the juvenile in all cases.
- Article 19The article provides that judgments issued against a juvenile are recorded in a special register at the facility and are not recorded against him or her as a prior conviction.
- Article 20The article lets the court, by a reasoned decision, release a juvenile sentenced to placement on conditional release after a quarter of the term, and requires return to the facility if he or she breaches the conditions.
- Article 21The article provides that all judgments concerning a juvenile are executed inside the facility in the presence of a court representative, subject to Article 15, unless the court decides otherwise.
- Article 22The article applies the Law of Criminal Procedure to a juvenile where the Juvenile Law has no provision, to the extent it does not conflict with his or her status as a juvenile.
- Article 23The article provides that the Council of Ministers issues the Implementing Regulations of the Juvenile Law, prepared by five bodies, within no more than 90 days of the Law's issuance.
- Article 24The article provides that the Juvenile Law takes effect 90 days after publication in the Official Gazette, and repeals all procedures and provisions that conflict with it.
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