Article 1 of the Saudi Juvenile Law
المادة 1 من نظام الأحداث
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقصد بالكلمات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني المبينة أمام كل منها:
1ـ النظام: نظام الأحداث.
2 ـ اللائحة: اللائحة التنفيذية للنظام.
3- النيابة: النيابة العامة.
4- الوزارة: وزارة العمل والتنمية الاجتماعية.
5- الحدث: كل ذكر أو أنثى أتم (السابعة) ولم يتم (الثامنة عشرة) من عمره.
6- المحكمة: المحكمة -أو الدائرة- المختصة بالنظر في قضايا الأحداث.
7- الدار: جهة تابعة للوزارة، تخصص فيها أماكن مستقلة لإيداع الأحداث من (الذكور), وأخرى خاصة بالإناث, وأماكن توقيف مستقلة للأحداث الموقوفين من (الذكور), وأخرى خاصة بالإناث الموقوفات.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 1 explained in plain English
This article is the definitions article of the Juvenile Law; it explains what is meant by the words that recur in its other articles, so that they are understood in the same sense wherever they appear.
The main things the article defines:
- Juvenile: every male or female who has completed seven years of age and has not completed eighteen. Anyone whose age falls between these two limits is subject to the provisions of this law.
- The court: the court or circuit competent to hear juvenile cases.
- The Home: a body affiliated with the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, with separate places for placing male juveniles and others for females, and separate places of detention for detained male juveniles and others for detained females.
- The Public Prosecution: the Public Prosecution; the Ministry: the Ministry of Labor and Social Development; and the Implementing Regulations: the Implementing Regulations of the law.
It is clear from the definition of the Home that the law separates males from females, and separates juveniles sentenced to placement from juveniles detained during investigation.
Article 2 complements this definition by providing that a person who has not completed seven years is not held criminally liable at the time of committing the punishable act. Anyone who needs to know whether the provisions of the law apply to a particular case would do best to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases and juvenile cases.
Practical example
A 17-year-old young man in Jeddah was accused of damaging property. Since he has completed seven years and has not completed eighteen, he is a "juvenile" under this definition, so the procedures of the Juvenile Law apply to him, and any detention of him takes place in the Home designated for male juveniles.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 1 of the Saudi Juvenile Law
Who is a juvenile under Saudi law?
A juvenile is every male or female who has completed seven years of age and has not completed eighteen.
What is a juvenile home?
A body affiliated with the Ministry of Labor and Social Development with separate places for placing juveniles and separate places for detaining them, with males separated from females.
What is meant by the court in the Juvenile Law?
The court or circuit competent to hear juvenile cases.
More articles on Definition of a Juvenile and Age of Responsibility
- Article 2
The 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.
لا يساءل جزائيًّا من لم يتم (السابعة) من عمره، وقت ارتكاب الفعل المعاقب عليه.
- Article 3
The 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.
لأغراض تطبيق النظام, يكون احتساب السن بالتقويم الهجري استناداً إلى ما هو مدون في أي وثيقة رسمية، وللمحكمة عند نظر القضية إحالة الحدث إلى الجهة الطبية المختصة لت
- Article 23
The 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.
يصدر مجلس الوزراء اللائحة -بعد أن تعدّها وزارة العدل ووزارة الداخلية ووزارة العمل والتنمية الاجتماعية والمجلس الأعلى للقضاء والنيابة العامة- في مدة لا تتجاوز تس
- Article 24
The 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.
يعمل بالنظام بعد تسعين يوماً من تاريخ نشره في الجريدة الرسمية، ويُلغي كل ما يتعارض معه من إجراءات وأحكام.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.