Article 10 of the Saudi Juvenile Law
المادة 10 من نظام الأحداث
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يسمع رئيس جهة الضبط أو من ينيبه أقوال الحدث -في الأماكن التي ليس فيها دار- بحضور ولي أمره أو من يقوم مقامه، أو مندوبٍ من الوزارة أو بما يمنع الخلوة أو الانفراد به، وتحال الأوراق إلى النيابة، ويسلم الحدث لولي أمره أو من يقوم مقامه بعد أخذ التعهد عليه بإحضاره عند الطلب، ما لم ترَ النيابة خلاف ذلك.
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 10 explained in plain English
This article regulates what happens to a juvenile in places with no juvenile facility, and sets three steps:
- Hearing the statements: the head of the arresting authority or his delegate hears the juvenile's statements in the presence of the juvenile's guardian or whoever stands in his place, or in the presence of a representative of the Ministry, or in a way that prevents the juvenile from being alone with anyone.
- Referring the papers: the papers are referred to the Public Prosecution.
- Handing over the juvenile: the juvenile is handed to his or her guardian or whoever stands in his place after taking an undertaking from him to produce the juvenile when requested, unless the Public Prosecution sees otherwise.
So in these places the rule is that the juvenile returns to the family against an undertaking, and the exception is that the Public Prosecution sees otherwise. If the juvenile is detained, Article 9 provides that the detention ends after five days unless it is extended under the procedures and periods it sets out.
Under Article 1, the Ministry is the Ministry of Labor and Social Development. The investigation itself that the Public Prosecution conducts is regulated by Article 11.
If you are asked to sign an undertaking to produce your son or daughter and want to know what it involves, you can consult a lawyer specializing in criminal and juvenile cases.
Practical example
A 15-year-old in a governorate with no juvenile facility is brought to the arresting authority over a report of a fight. The head of the authority hears his statements in the presence of his father, the papers are referred to the Public Prosecution, and the young man is then handed to his father after the father undertakes to produce him when requested, because the Public Prosecution did not see otherwise.
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 10 of the Saudi Juvenile Law
Who hears a juvenile's statements in a city with no juvenile facility?
The head of the arresting authority or his delegate, in the presence of the juvenile's guardian or whoever stands in his place or a representative of the Ministry, or in a way that prevents the juvenile from being alone with anyone.
Is the juvenile handed to his family after his statements are heard?
Yes, he is handed to his guardian or whoever stands in his place after an undertaking is taken to produce him when requested, unless the Public Prosecution sees otherwise.
Where do the papers of a juvenile's case go after his statements are heard?
The papers are referred to the Public Prosecution.
More articles on Arrest and Notification of a Juvenile
- Article 4
The 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.
تكون في مكان مناسب إجراءات ضبط بلاغات الأحداث المدعين، وسماع الشهود من الأحداث, وما يتبعها من إجراءات تتطلب حضور الحدث -لأول مرة- (بوجود ولي أمره أو من يقوم مقا
- Article 5
The 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.
يراعى عند القبض على الحدث في حالات التلبس إبلاغ ولي أمره فوراً أو من يقوم مقامه. أما في غير حالات التلبس فيراعى حال الحدث، وأن يكون القبض عليه بحضور ولي أمره أو
- Article 6
The article provides that, in all cases, notifying a juvenile is not valid unless his guardian or the person acting in his place is notified.
في جميع الأحوال لا يكون إجراء تبليغ الحدث صحيحاً إلاَّ إذا بُلّغ ولي أمره أو من يقوم مقامه.
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.