Article 18 of the Saudi Juvenile Law
المادة 18 من نظام الأحداث
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا اشترك في الجريمة أحداث وغير أحداث تنظم النيابة ملفاً خاصاً بغير الأحداث يحال إلى المحكمة المختصة بنظرها، وملفاً خاصاً بالأحداث يحال إلى المحكمة، ما لم تكن غير مختصة نوعاً. وفي كل الأحوال يطبق في حق الحدث الإجراءات والأحكام المنصوص عليها في النظام.
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 18 explained in plain English
This article deals with the case where juveniles and non-juveniles take part in one crime, and requires the Public Prosecution to separate the files:
- A file for non-juveniles: referred to the court competent to hear it.
- A file for juveniles: referred to the court, which under Article 1 is the court or circuit competent to hear juvenile cases, unless it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction over the case.
Subject-matter jurisdiction means jurisdiction according to the type of case. The article does not say which court the juveniles' file is referred to if the juvenile court lacks subject-matter jurisdiction.
The article ends with an important rule: in all cases, the procedures and provisions set out in the Juvenile Law apply to the juvenile. Even if his case is heard before another court because of subject-matter jurisdiction, he keeps the procedures and provisions that the Juvenile Law prescribes. This includes what Article 19 provides, that judgments issued against the juvenile are recorded in a special register at the facility without a prior conviction being recorded against him.
So the treatment of a juvenile does not change because non-juvenile accused are involved in the case with him. A parent whose son took part with adults in a case can consult a lawyer specializing in criminal and juvenile cases.
Practical example
A 16-year-old is accused with two adult men in a car theft case in Dammam. The Public Prosecution prepares a file for the two men, referred to the court competent to hear it, and a separate file for the young man, referred to the juvenile court, and the procedures and provisions of the Juvenile Law apply to him.
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 18 of the Saudi Juvenile Law
What happens if a minor and an adult take part in a crime?
The Public Prosecution prepares a file for non-juveniles, referred to the competent court, and a file for juveniles, referred to the juvenile court unless it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction.
Is a juvenile tried with adults in the same file?
No. The article provides for preparing one file for juveniles and another for non-juveniles.
Do the Juvenile Law's provisions apply to a juvenile if his case is heard in another court?
The article provides that in all cases the procedures and provisions set out in the Law apply to the juvenile.
More articles on Investigating a Juvenile
- Article 10
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.
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
- Article 11
The 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.
لا تحقق النيابة مع الحدث إلاَّ بحضور ولي أمره أو من يقوم مقامه أو باحث أو أخصائي اجتماعي أو بحضور محامٍ له, ويكون التحقيق داخل الدار. وإن اقتضت مصلحة التحقيق غي
- Article 12
The 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.
تُعِد الدار -فور إيداع الحدث لديها- تقريرًا اجتماعيًّا عن حالته، وتقدمه إلى المحكمة مع ملف القضية، وكلما طلبت المحكمة ذلك. وفي جميع الأحوال يجب أن تُقدِّم الدار
- Article 13
The 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.
مع عدم الإخلال بحق أطراف الدعوى في الاعتراض، يكتفى في قضايا الأحداث بقرار اتهام دون حاجة إلى لائحة دعوى، ويستثنى من ذلك القضايا التي يستوجب النظر فيها ثلاثة قضا
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.