Article 17 of the Saudi Juvenile Law
المادة 17 من نظام الأحداث
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا أتم الحدث (الثامنة عشرة) من عمره قبل انتهاء مدة الإيداع المحكوم بها عليه، فينقل إلى السجن لإتمام المدة الباقية، إلاَّ إذا رأت المحكمة من تلقاء نفسها -أو بناء على طلب من له مصلحة- غير 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 17 explained in plain English
This article deals with the case of a juvenile who has been sentenced to placement and then turns eighteen before the placement period ends.
The rule in this case is that the juvenile is transferred to prison to complete the remaining period. This ties in with the definition in Article 1, which limits the description of a juvenile to a person who has turned seven but has not turned eighteen.
The article makes an exception where the court sees otherwise, which can happen in two ways:
- On its own initiative.
- At the request of an interested person.
The article does not specify the alternative the court decides on if it sees that there should be no transfer, or the criteria it relies on; this is left to its discretion.
Under Article 1, the facility is a body affiliated with the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, with separate places for placing juveniles. This article follows Article 16, which provides that the provisions of the Law do not prejudice the rulings established by Sharia in hudud and qisas crimes.
An interested person, such as the juvenile's guardian, may ask the court not to transfer him to prison. To learn how to submit such a request, you can consult a lawyer specializing in criminal and juvenile cases.
Practical example
A young man in Riyadh is sentenced to placement in the facility for three years when he is sixteen. After two years he turns eighteen, with one year remaining. The rule is that he is transferred to prison to complete the remaining year, but his father asks the court to keep him in the facility, and the court may decide otherwise on the strength of that request.
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 17 of the Saudi Juvenile Law
What happens to a juvenile who turns 18 while in the facility?
He is transferred to prison to complete the remaining period, unless the court, on its own initiative or at the request of an interested person, decides otherwise.
Can a juvenile be kept from being transferred to prison after turning 18?
Yes, the court may decide otherwise at the request of an interested person.
More articles on Conditional Release and Enforcing Judgments
- Article 19
The 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.
تسجل الأحكام الصادرة في حق الحدث في سجلٍّ خاص لدى الدار ولا تسجل عليه سابقة.
- Article 20
The 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.
1ـ يجوز للمحكمة -بقرار مسبب- من تلقاء نفسها أو بناءً على طلب الحدث أو ولي أمره أو من له مصلحة؛ الإفراجُ المشروط عن الحدث المحكوم عليه بالإيداع، وذلك بشرط أن يكو
- Article 21
The 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.
مع مراعاة حكم المادة (الخامسة عشرة) من النظام، تنًّفذ جميع الأحكام الصادرة في شأن الحدث داخل الدار وبحضور مندوب من المحكمة، ما لم ترَ المحكمة غير ذلك.
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.